Explainer: Why US is stopping some bomb shipments to Israel

American President

Joe Biden

has warned that the US would not provide offensive weapons to Israel for a potential full-scale assault on Rafah, a critical Hamas stronghold in Gaza. In an interview with CNN, Biden affirmed the US's commitment to Israel's defense by continuing to supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive equipment. However, he made it clear that if Israeli forces were to enter Rafah, the US would withhold supplying weapons and artillery shells.
Biden reiterated the conditional nature of US military support: "I made it clear that if they go into Rafah — they haven’t gone in Rafah yet — if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, that deal with that problem." Biden's stance marks a significant policy shift, emphasizing a strategic withdrawal from supporting offensive operations in such densely populated areas, saying, "We’re not walking away from Israel’s security.

We’re walking away from Israel’s ability to wage war in those areas."
Here is all you need to know about why the US is stopping some bomb shipments to Israel

What specific types of weapons has the US blocked from being sent to Israel?
The US has paused a shipment that includes 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs. These are significant because their use in densely populated areas like Rafah can lead to high civilian casualties. President Biden expressed this concern clearly: “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers."

Why is the US blocking these bombs now?
The decision comes amidst escalating violence in Gaza, particularly in Rafah, where the potential for civilian casualties is substantial due to the dense population. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated, "We've been very clear...from the very beginning that Israel shouldn't launch a major attack into Rafah without accounting for and protecting the civilians that are in that battlespace." The concern is that the large bombs could cause excessive damage and civilian deaths in such settings.

What was Israel's response to the US decision?
Israel's US ambassador, Gilad Erdan, described the US decision to pause the bomb shipment as "very disappointing," even frustrating, suggesting it might be a result of political pressure on Biden. Despite this, Erdan expressed confidence that the US would not completely stop supplying arms to Israel.

Has the US ever withheld military aid from Israel before?
Yes, there have been instances in the past where the US has withheld military aid from Israel. For example, in 1982, President Ronald Reagan imposed a six-year ban on cluster weapons sales to Israel following reports that they were used in populated areas during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Such decisions are often influenced by concerns over the use of US supplied weapons in conflict zones and their impact on civilian populations.
(With inputs from agencies)