Netanyahu Criticizes Biden Admin for Alleged Weapon Withholding

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly criticized the Biden administration, claiming that the U.S. is “withholding” weapons from Israel during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. In a video released on Tuesday, Netanyahu described the situation as “inconceivable,” marking his harshest critique of the Biden administration to date. However, U.S. officials have stated they are unaware of any such withholding.

Netanyahu mentioned that he conveyed his concerns to Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a recent visit. While expressing gratitude for the U.S. support following the October 7 Hamas attack, he emphasized his dissatisfaction, saying, “It’s inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunition to Israel.” Blinken reportedly assured Netanyahu that efforts were being made to address these issues.

This controversy stems from an incident in early May when President Joe Biden paused a shipment of high-payload munitions to Israel. This decision was influenced by concerns that Israel might launch a major attack on Rafah, a southern Gaza city sheltering over 1.2 million civilians. This is the only confirmed instance of the U.S. withholding a planned weapons shipment.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the matter in a press briefing, stating that administration officials were puzzled by Netanyahu’s comments. She acknowledged the paused shipment but confirmed that there have been “no other pauses or holds in place.”

Netanyahu referenced a historical parallel, stating, “During World War II, Churchill told the United States, ‘give us the tools, we’ll do the job.’ And I say, give us the tools and we’ll finish the job a lot faster.”

The Biden administration has been increasingly critical of Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza conflict, particularly regarding the rising civilian casualties and stalled cease-fire talks. The administration has accused Israel’s military of not taking sufficient measures to avoid civilian deaths and facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza. Biden has also suggested that Netanyahu may be prolonging the war for political reasons, though he later moderated his stance, acknowledging Netanyahu’s complex situation.

Before the paused shipment in May, Biden had warned that the U.S. would reconsider its military support if Israel proceeded with an operation in Rafah without adequate civilian protection plans. The paused shipment included thousands of 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs, with U.S. officials concerned about their potential impact in densely populated areas. The administration noted that Israel’s actions in Gaza might have violated international law, though no concrete violations necessitating a full aid cutoff were confirmed.

Biden’s decision to pause the shipment faced opposition from some lawmakers. The House of Representatives passed a bill that aimed to block defense agency funding if the White House didn’t deliver the aid, although it was unlikely to succeed in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Progressive Democrats have also urged Biden to increase pressure on Israel.

Amid growing international pressure, Israel announced on Sunday that it would pause fighting for 11 hours daily near a southern Gaza border crossing to allow more humanitarian aid, though it continued operations in Rafah.