The Biden administration has temporarily paused shipments of two types of precision bombs to Israel in response to U.S. opposition to the Israeli ground operation in Rafah. The administration expressed concerns about the potential use of the bombs in the densely populated area, where over a million civilians have sought shelter. A shipment of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs has been placed on hold.
The U.S. position has been that Israel should not launch a major ground operation in Rafah. The administration has engaged in discussions with Israel on how to meet the humanitarian needs of civilians in the area and operate differently against Hamas in Rafah than elsewhere in Gaza. These discussions are ongoing, but the U.S. concerns have not yet been fully addressed.
Following a review of proposed weapons transfers to Israel, the U.S. decided last week to pause the shipment of the bombs. The administration is particularly focused on the end-use of the 2,000-pound bombs and their potential impact in dense urban settings. A final determination on how to proceed with this shipment has not yet been made.
Other cases, including Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits, are still under review by the State Department. None of these cases involve imminent transfers. The administration emphasized that these shipments are not related to the supplemental appropriations passed for Israel last month, which provide $827 million worth of weapons and equipment.
Israeli forces recently announced that they have gained operational control of the Gazan side of the Rafah Crossing after launching a counterterrorism operation in eastern Rafah aimed at targeting Hamas terrorists and infrastructure.
