How important are US weapons to Israel?

The Biden administration will send a political signal to Israel and is holding back thousands of bombs.

The US has withheld 1,800 bombs weighing 900 kilograms each and 1,700 bombs weighing 225 kilograms that were to be sent to Israel, according to Politico.

It is the first time since October 7, when a Hamas attack killed around 1,200 people in Israel, that the US has withheld an arms delivery to Israel.

Why is the US doing this?

President Joe Biden’s administration has for months warned Israel against carrying out a ground invasion in Rafah. Israel believes it is necessary to crush the remnants of Hamas.

The US and many others are concerned about the humanitarian consequences, since 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge in and around the city.

The Americans have been particularly concerned about the effect the 900 kilogram heavy bombs will have in a densely populated area. Such bombs have a “probable killing radius” of 33 metres, while they can injure people within a radius of as much as 350 metres.

It has not been finally decided whether the US will deliver the weapons to Israel, according to Politico. The Israeli authorities have not yet commented on the case. But a spokesperson for the Israeli military tried to downplay the situation on Wednesday. He said the US and Israel are resolving their differences “behind closed doors”.

How has Israel used the powerful bombs?

The Israeli retaliation for the October 7 attack has caused enormous destruction in Gaza.

Israel’s bombing campaign and ground invasion have killed nearly 35,000 people. The source for the death toll is the Palestinian health authorities in Gaza, which are controlled by Hamas. Aftenposten cannot independently verify the figures for those killed, and Hamas does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The UN has pointed out that the figures given by the Palestinian health authorities in previous wars have later proved to be credible.

Israel had dropped 29,000 bombs on Gaza until mid-December, according to The Wall Street Journal.

900-kilogram precision bombs have routinely been dropped on areas that Israel itself has designated as “safe areas” for civilians. The New York Times wrote that just before Christmas.

How important are US weapons to Israel?

Historically, no other country has received nearly as much military support from the United States as Israel. 69 percent of the weapons Israel imports are from the United States, while 30 percent come from Germany, according to a report from Sipri.

The Biden administration has expressed concern that so many Palestinian civilians have been killed. But the Americans have continued to supply weapons to Israel and supported the country politically. The US has approved more than 100 arms sales, the Washington Post wrote at the end of March.

As recently as two weeks ago, Biden approved an aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan of NOK 1,040 billion. It included NOK 154 billion in support for Israel, which was to be used, among other things, to buy air defenses and other weapons. Biden assured that his continued support for Israel was “unwavering”.

Will arms deliveries to Israel continue?

There are many indications of that. Many billions have been set aside for weapons that can be sent to Israel. In reality, this money will end up in American hands, since most of the weapons will be purchased from American manufacturers.

The US has committed to ensuring that Israel has a military advantage in the region by not selling more advanced weapons to other countries in the Middle East. This was written into US law in 2008.

In addition, the US and Israel enter into agreements on annual military assistance. These agreements apply for 10 years at a time. The last agreement was concluded in 2016 and commits the US to provide around NOK 40 billion in military support each year.

But the arms deliveries could become problematic if it can be proven that American weapons have been used in Gaza in violation of international law. Among others, Amnesty International believes that this has happened. The United States also has laws that prohibit the government from providing military support to governments or groups behind serious human rights abuses.

Biden ordered in February that it be assessed whether US weapons delivered to other countries are used in accordance with US and international law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had until 8 May to deliver a report on the arms deliveries to Israel. But it appears that report will not be completed in time, according to Reuters.

Will a halt in arms deliveries affect the war in Gaza?

Israeli leaders have repeatedly said that they will do what is necessary for Israel and not be influenced by others.

But the pressure now coming from the Americans may have already caused the Israelis to limit the operation in Rafah, according to Israeli media.