US reveals it paused shipment of bombs for Israel
A US bomb shipment, destined for Israel, was paused last week over concerns the country was going ahead with a major ground operation in Rafah, southern Gaza, a senior administration official has said.
The official told CBS News that the paused shipment consisted of 1,800 2,000lb (907kg) bombs and 1,700 500lb bombs.
Israel has not “fully addressed” US concerns over the humanitarian needs of civilians in Rafah, the official says.
Overnight, more Israeli air strikes have battered the Gaza Strip, just hours after Israeli tanks moved in on the Rafah crossing and took control. The crossing is a key entry for humanitarian aid and is now controlled by Israel.
- Official says U.S. halted bomb shipment to Israel due to concerns over Rafah invasion
- Palestinian leader appeals to US to stop Israel Rafah offensive
- Gaza ceasefire uncertain, Israel vows to continue Rafah operation
The Israeli bombardment has been intense around Rafah – where more than 1 million people were sheltering. The Israeli forces recently encouraged civilians to leave the area – a move widely criticised by the West.
Rafah, which borders Egypt, has been a key entry point for aid and the only exit for people to flee since the start of the war in October.
On Monday, the Israeli military ordered tens of thousands of civilians to begin evacuating nearby eastern parts of Rafah city, ahead of what it called a “limited” operation to eliminate Hamas fighters and dismantle infrastructure.
The ceasefire talks are ongoing, as delegations from Israel and Hamas are to resume negotiations through mediators.
@oceanpleasant Please keep supporting Safaa’s family! They need to know we haven’t given up on them 🫒🙏❤️ #greenscreen