A shipment of U.S. ammunition destined for Israel was reportedly halted by the Biden administration last week.
The reasoning behind the decision remains unclear, according to a recent Axios report highlighting the confusion among Israeli and American authorities.
According to an unnamed source familiar with the matter, the halted shipment was not connected to the Biden administration’s opposition to a potential invasion of Rafah, a Hamas-controlled area in the southern Gaza Strip, reported CNN.
In a statement to The Hill, the National Security Council reiterated the United States’ steadfast support for Israel’s war effort:
“The United States has surged billions of dollars in security assistance to Israel since the October 7 attacks, passed the largest ever supplemental appropriation for emergency assistance to Israel, led an unprecedented coalition to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, and will continue to do what is necessary to ensure Israel can defend itself from the threats it faces.”
Despite expressing support for Israel, this marks the first time since the October 7 terrorist attacks that a U.S. weapons shipment bound for Israel has been put on pause or halted, reported Breitbart.
The Biden administration has consistently voiced its disapproval of any Israeli moves into Rafah, with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan questioning the viability of a credible invasion plan that would garner White House support while also reaffirming the country’s stance on its strategic relationship with Israel.
“We are going to continue to make our decisions based on what [President Biden] believes is in the best interests of the American people and is most consistent with American values. That is what is guiding him today, and it will guide him always through the remainder of this conflict,” Sullivan said on an April 26 broadcast of MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports.
Despite the reports of any alleged suspension, ammunition deliveries to Israel appear to be proceeding as usual, reported the Times of Israel. An unnamed Israeli official who spoke with Ynet confirmed the continuous flow of defense shipments from the United States.
“Even now, a continued series of defense shipments are being sent from the U.S. to Israel. It’s possible that one shipment or another is delayed, but the flow continues and we’re not aware of a policy decision to stop it,” the official said, according to the Times of Israel.
David Mencer, an Israeli government spokesperson, echoed the assertion, telling Breitbart News that he had not seen any evidence of a suspension of U.S. ammunition shipments.
