According to the Washington Post, the decision must be linked to concerns about a ground invasion in Rafah.
Wednesday 8 May at 03:41
Israeli tanks rolled into Rafah in the far south of Gaza on Tuesday night.
Around 1.5 million Palestinians have stayed internally displacedInternally displaced persons are people who are forced to flee their home, but who are still within the borders of their own country. to Rafah since the war began, and the area has previously been described as one of the safest places in Gaza.
The UN has warned that the invasion could lead to a massacre. US President Joe Biden, who has been clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, has also warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against entering Rafah.
Night to Wednesday reports Washington Post that the US has postponed at least two arms shipments to its Israeli allies.
The reason, according to several sources, is concern that a ground invasion in the densely populated Rafah will increase the death toll considerably.
– The president will not see operations in Rafah that increase the danger to the more than one million people seeking refuge there, said John Kirby at the White House on Tuesday.
Also read: Terrified Palestinians tell VG: – We have nowhere to flee
According to the newspaper, this is the first time arms shipments to Israel from the US have been delayed since Hamas’ attack on 7 October.
The delayed shipments should include bombs and precision weapons, writes the Washington Post.
Also Wall Street JournalPolitico, Axios and Reuters have reported delays in US arms deliveries to Israel.
Neither the White House nor Israel’s embassy in Washington wanted to comment on the matter.
Matthew Miller, who is a spokesperson for the US State Department, says that the US still believes that Israel has the right to defend itself.
Reacts strongly: – Reprehensible
In the United States, there is a vigorous political debate about the country’s support for Israel.
In several places in countries, students are protesting against the American president, and clashes have broken out with the police in several places.
At the same time, support for Israel is very important to large sections of the country’s population.
– Putting support for our most important allies in the Middle East on hold in order to send a “political message” is reprehensible. The US must stand with Israel. Period, writes Republican congressman Russell Fry on X.
