U.S. DEFENSE CHIEF SAYS U.S. REVIEWING NEAR-TERM SECURITY AID TO ISRAEL AMID EVENTS IN RAFAH

U.S. Defense Chief Says U.S. Reviewing Near-term Security Aid to Israel Amid Events in Rafah

Austin publicly confirmed the Biden administration paused a pending weapons transfer to Israel last week, but said no final decision has been reached

May 08th, 21PM May 08th, 21PM

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday that the U.S. is "currently reviewing some near-term security assistance. In the context of unfolding events in Rafah" in a senate committee.

Austin publicly confirmed the Biden administration paused a pending weapons transfer to Israel last week, over concerns of the looming military operation in Rafah. He is the first senior U.S. official to publicly declare it.

Austin added that the U.S. has been clear from the beginning that Israel "needs to account for civilians in Rafah." According to him, no final decision has been reached on the matter.

An Israeli official told NBC News that Israel is deeply frustrated by the decision. The official added that there is already tension between the governments because in Israel, there is a feeling that the U.S. acted behind their backs to promote the cease-fire and hostage deal proposal that Hamas agreed to.

AIPAC called on Congress to challenge the Biden administration to reverse its decision to pause the shipment, offering its sharpest criticism of Biden's policy to date.

"Delaying this arms transfer is a dangerous and counterproductive message. It emboldens Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, and undermines America's commitments to all our allies. Congress must demand the Biden Admin reverse this delay and ensure Israel has what it needs to win this war," the pro-Israel organization said.

On Tuesday, a senior U.S. official told the Associated Press that the focus of U.S. concern in stopping the shipment was the larger explosives and how they could be used in a dense urban setting.

The decision comes as the Biden administration is due to deliver a first-of-its-kind formal verdict this week on whether the airstrikes on Gaza and restrictions on delivery of aid have violated international and U.S. laws designed to spare civilians from the worst horrors of war. A decision against Israel would further add to pressure on Biden to curb the flow of weapons and money to Israel's military.

Israel has committed to the U.S. and Egypt to restrict its operation in Rafah, which started on Monday, aiming only to deny Hamas authority over the border crossing that connects Gaza with Egypt, and concentrating on the eastern side of the city.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 news, said the decision to pause the shipment was "a very disappointing decision, even frustrating." He suggested the move stemmed from political pressure on Biden from Congress, the U.S. campus protests and the upcoming election.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders said the administration is "absolutely right" in halting weapons transfer to Israel, adding that the U.S. must also push for an "immediate cease-fire" in Gaza.

He added that the U.S. "can no longer be complicit in Netanyahu's horrific war against the Palestinian people."

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell slammed President Joe Biden for the decision, saying "his inability to keep the most radical voices on his left flank out of the Situation Room isn't just a shameful abdication of leadership, it's dangerous."

2024-05-08T19:03:01Z dg43tfdfdgfd