Opposition to Ground War in Gaza... US Defense Confirms "Suspension of Arms Supply to Israel"

Bloomberg "Serious and Uncommon Warning Sign"

The U.S. government has officially confirmed that it has halted arms supplies to Israel in opposition to the ground offensive in Rafah, the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip. Bloomberg News assessed this move as a very significant and rare warning, given that 70% of the military supplies Israel imports come from the United States.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 8th (local time), U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin appeared before the Senate and stated, "We are currently reviewing short-term security assistance in the context of what is happening in Rafah." This is the first time the U.S. government has publicly confirmed the suspension of arms shipments to Israel.

Secretary Austin explained, "From the beginning, we have made it clear that significant attacks in Rafah are not acceptable if Israel does not take responsibility for and protect civilians on the battlefield," adding, "We have assessed the situation and temporarily suspended one shipment of high-explosive ammunition." He further noted, "We have not made a final decision on how to proceed with that shipment."

Earlier, foreign media reported that the U.S. government temporarily halted a shipment of 3,500 bombs bound for Israel last week.

As ceasefire and hostage negotiations continue between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas, and Israel considers a ground offensive in Rafah, the U.S. appears to have played the card of suspending arms shipments out of concern for civilian casualties.

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, also expressed concern about civilian casualties in the Rafah ground offensive during a briefing that day, stating, "We have suspended one shipment of short-term assistance (to Israel)" and "We are reviewing other matters."

Seventy percent of the military supplies Israel imports come from the United States. Since the Israel-Hamas war began in October last year, the U.S. has supplied military goods to Israel more than 200 times. Italy, Spain, Canada, and others have suspended arms sales to Israel as civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip have increased.