Biden Halts Arms Shipment to Israel Amid Rafah Invasion Fears

The Biden administration has made the decision to halt a shipment of arms to Israel, including 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, citing concerns over a potential full-scale invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than 1.2 million civilians have taken refuge. This move comes despite significant international opposition.

Unnamed senior Biden administration officials, speaking to outlets such as the New York Times, Associated Press, and Axios, revealed that the decision was made due to fears that the large explosives could be used in strikes in the densely populated city of Rafah, where over half of Gaza’s population is believed to be sheltering.

The administration has also put under review future shipments, including conversion kits for unguided bombs that could transform them into precision-guided weapons. This review process began in April, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government appeared to be advancing plans for an assault on Rafah.

Regarding the halted bomb shipment, a final decision is yet to be made. An administration official explained that Israel has not adequately addressed their concerns about Rafah, particularly regarding the potential impact of 2,000-pound bombs in dense urban settings, as has been witnessed in other parts of Gaza.

The Biden administration’s actions come amidst a complex backdrop. Hamas recently announced its acceptance of a cease-fire plan negotiated by Egypt and Qatar, which involves a phased release of hostages from Gaza in exchange for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the enclave. However, Israel rejected the offer, stating it did not address its key demands.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet unanimously agreed to “continue the operation in Rafah to exert military pressure on Hamas in order to advance the release of our hostages and the other goals of the war.” The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) later announced the capture of the Gazan side of the Rafah border crossing after what they described as a “precise counterterrorism operation.”

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby clarified that the capture of the crossing was a limited operation and not a full-fledged invasion of the city. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.2 million Palestinian civilians are currently seeking refuge in Rafah.