
The United States is again sending 500-pound bombs to Israel
Last Updated on July 14, 2024 9:35 am
US President Joe Biden’s administration will start sending 500-pound bombs to occupied Israel again.
A US official informed this information on Thursday (11 July).
The U.S. suspended a shipment of the 2,000-pound bomb to Israel early last May over concerns it could be used in populated areas. Because, at that time, Israel was preparing for a large-scale ground operation in Rafah, southern part of Gaza. The US government opposed the launch of the campaign. However, the US official said that 500 pounds of bombs are being sent to the country now that Israel has announced the end of its operations in Rafah.
The US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We were particularly concerned about the use of 2,000-pound bombs in the Israeli operation in Rafah.” They have announced the end of that campaign.
The official indicated that the 500-pound bomb was part of a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs that was suspended in May. Since there is no concern about the 500 pound bombs, they are being sent. He said, ‘The way these consignments are prepared, sometimes there are different types of ammunition in the consignment. Such was the case with the 500 pound bomb. As we are not concerned about the 500 pound bombs, they are being shipped as part of the normal process.’
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu complained that President Joe Biden’s administration was slowing delivering weapons to his country.
US officials have denied the allegations. They claim that only one shipment of bombs has been suspended. Later, however, the two sides indicated progress in the process of resolving the issue.
In a press conference on Thursday, Biden said that 2,000 pounds of bombs will not be sent to Israel. He said, “If a 2000 pound bomb is used in a crowded area, humanitarian disaster and heavy losses cannot be avoided.”
The United States is at the top of the list of countries that support Israel in the military sector. However, the White House expressed disappointment as the number of civilians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza continues to rise. The Israeli forces have been rampaging in the Gaza Strip for more than 9 months in response to the attacks of the Palestinian independence organization Hamas in Israel.
According to the Hamas Ministry of Health, at least 38,345 people have been killed in the attack since October 7. Most of the victims were women and children.
Source: Al-Jazeera