Move would mark significant pivot in relations as pressure builds on Israel to pull back from attack in Gaza
Joe Biden has been trying to head off a full-scale assault by against Rafah, where battles raged on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday.Joe Biden has been trying to head off a full-scale assault by against Rafah, where battles raged on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday.that more arms shipments could be delayed if the Israeli military pushes ahead with an offensive in Rafah, Gaza, in what would mark the start of a major pivot in relations between the two countries.
Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, said he did not believe the US would stop supplying arms to Israel, but called Washington’s decision to hold up some weapons shipments “very disappointing”, even frustrating. The US administration has refused to use the phrase “red line” but has stressed that Biden was serious when he toldin a call on 4 April that an attack on Rafah would lead to a significant re-evaluation of the relationship.
However, the Guardian understands that conversations in recent months have focused on how the Israeli military’s use of certain munitions diverges from the Pentagon’s rules on the use of such weapons in heavily populated urban settings.Biden has been trying to head off a full-scale assault by Israel against Rafah, where battles raged on the outskirts on Wednesday, once again displacing Palestinians.
”We are especially focused on the end use of the 2,000lb bombs and the impact they could have in dense urban settings as we have seen in other parts ofAn Israeli military spokesperson attempted to play down the shipment delay – saying that allies resolve any disagreements “behind closed doors”. However, the move appeared to mark a significant moment in US policy.
The CIA director, William Burns, is to travel to Israel on Wednesday to meet Netanyahu, a source said.offered its full support to Israel after Hamas launched its 7 October attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 others were abducted, of whom 133 are believed to still be in captivity in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
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