Source: U.S. put a hold on an ammunition shipment to Israel
The Biden administration last week put a hold on a shipment of U.S.-made ammunition to Israel, two Israeli officials told Axios.
It is the first time since the Oct. 7 attack that the U.S. has stopped a weapons shipment intended for the Israeli military.
- The incident raised serious concerns inside the Israeli government and sent officials scrambling to understand why the shipment was held, Israeli officials said.
- President Biden is facing sharp criticism among Americans who oppose his support of Israel. The administration in February asked Israel to provide assurances that U.S.-made weapons were being used by Israel Defense Forces in Gaza in accordance with international law. Israel provided a signed letter of assurances in March.
The Israeli officials said the ammunition shipment to Israel was stopped last week.
- The White House declined to comment.
- The Pentagon, the State Department and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office didn’t immediately respond to questions.
The Biden administration is highly concerned Israel will invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah where more than one million displaced Palestinians have been taking shelter.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released several statements in recents days saying he intended to order an invasion of Rafah regardless of whether Israel and Hamas reach a deal for the release of hostages being held in Gaza and a ceasefire.
Netanyahu hinted at tensions with the Biden administration in a statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day issued Sunday.
- “In the terrible Holocaust, there were great world leaders who stood by idly; therefore, the first lesson of the Holocaust is: If we do not defend ourselves, nobody will defend us. And if we need to stand alone, we will stand alone,” he said.
两名以色列官员告诉 Axios，拜登政府上周暂停了向以色列运送美国制造的弹药。自 10 月 7 日袭击事件以来，这是美国首次停止向以色列军方运送武器。 以色列官员表示，这一事件引起了以色列政府内部的严重关注，并促使官员们忙于了解这批货物被扣押的原因。 拜登总统正面临反对他支持以色列的美国人的尖锐批评。美国政府二月份要求以色列保证以色列国防军在加沙使用美国制造的武器符合国际法。以色列于三月份提供了一份签署的保证书。以色列官员表示，上周已停止向以色列运送弹药。 白宫拒绝发表评论。 五角大楼、国务院和以色列总理办公室没有立即回应问题。拜登政府高度担心以色列将入侵加沙南部城市拉法，那里有超过一百万流离失所的巴勒斯坦人正在那里避难。 以色列总理本杰明·内塔尼亚胡最近几天发表了几份声明，称无论以色列和哈马斯是否就释放加沙扣押的人质和停火达成协议，他都打算下令入侵拉法。 内塔尼亚胡在周日发表的大屠杀纪念日声明中暗示了与拜登政府的紧张关系。 “在可怕的大屠杀中，有一些伟大的世界领导人袖手旁观；因此，大屠杀的第一个教训是：如果我们不保卫自己，没有人会保卫我们。他说，如果我们需要孤立，我们就孤立。“
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