US has stopped sending bombs to Israel and is reconsidering support for Rafah invasion, Defense Secretary Austin says

The United States has stopped sending an arms shipment to Israel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday, in what is seen as a warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against a full-scale invasion of Rafah.

President Joe Biden’s decision to delay the delivery of 3,500 bombs to the US ally in the Middle East marked the first time he used his executive power to influence Israel’s approach to the war with Hamas.

Austin told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the Biden administration’s position “has been clear from the beginning that Israel should not launch a major attack on the Rafah without consideration and protection for the civilians who are in that battle zone.” ‘

“When we assessed the situation, we stopped one shipment of high-payload ammunition,” he added.

The Defense Secretary went on to say that “we have not yet made a final decision on how to proceed with that shipment.”

And he stressed that the government is “absolutely committed to continuing to support Israel in its right to defend itself.”

Israel has downplayed the government’s decision to withhold the 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs. Biden officials were concerned that the weapons would be used against refugees in Rafah.

The government is also examining whether to block future transfers, including guidance kits that convert so-called dumb bombs into precision-guided munitions, reports show.

Many Democrats have urged the president to limit arms shipments to Israel, fearing they will be used against innocent civilians.

Israel is heavily dependent on the US for its military. Many of the drones used to fend off Iranian missiles last month were American-made, and American forces helped counter the bombings.

Biden’s decision comes as he has struggled to balance his support for Israel after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack with his efforts to protect Palestine’s civilian population.

About a million refugees have visited Rafah. Biden warned Netanyahu on Monday against a full-scale attack on Rafah.

But on Monday, the Israeli army warned about 110,000 civilians to leave Rafah, and tanks entered hours later. It was not a large-scale invasion, but some worry one is imminent.

Israel has threatened a major attack on the area to defeat thousands of Hamas fighters it says are hiding there.

Republicans rejected the administration’s decision to delay bomb deliveries.

Senator Lindsey Graham rebuked the administration.

‘This is obscene. It’s absurd. Give Israel what it needs,” Graham said, noting that it was not for Washington to question Israel’s conduct of a war against Hamas militants bent on Israel’s destruction.

Senator Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on Biden to drop “his politically motivated hold.”

“American support for Israel should not be questioned, especially now,” she said.

And Representatives Mike Rogers, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Michael McCaul, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released a joint statement calling for the bombs to be delivered.

“We are shocked that the government has halted crucial arms shipments to Israel. Withholding weapons from Israel weakens Israel’s deterrent against Iran and its allies such as Hamas and Hezbollah,” they said.

Meanwhile, US officials are concerned that Israel is now in control the Gaza side of a border crossing to Egypt that is an important channel for humanitarian aid.

Gaza is experiencing a humanitarian crisis and famine-like conditions.

The seizure and closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing, the only two major entry points in the south for food, medicine and other supplies, has raised concerns that the crisis could worsen.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration was assured the border crossing had been reopened.

‘We have been told by Israel that it has been opened. It’s important to get those trucks in. It is important to get that aid into Gaza. So that’s what we want to see.’

“We know how dire the situation is in Gaza. We want to continue to receive that humanitarian aid, and we want a ceasefire. We want a ceasefire,” she noted.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu was expected to meet with CIA Director William Burns in Israel on Wednesday afternoon, an Israeli official told the New York Times.

Burns has been in the Middle East to try to finalize a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that would see the hostages released.

Hamas’ attack on October 7 killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped around 250 others, of whom Israel said 133 would remain in captivity in Gaza.

Israel’s campaign to destroy Hamas has so far killed a total of 34,789 Palestinians, mostly civilians, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

White House spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that negotiations were at a “sensitive stage” and that “there should be no reason why they cannot close the remaining gaps.”