Israel questions US commitment to war on Hamas after weapons shipment withdrawn

Israel has questioned the US’s commitment to its war against Hamas after the Pentagon admitted it had paused a shipment of weapons that could have been used in Rafah.

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s UN ambassador, criticised Joe Biden, the US president, and said the decision to pause a shipment of “high-payload munitions” to Israel was “very disappointing”.

On Wednesday, Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, confirmed reports that a shipment of 2,000lb bombs had been halted “in the context of unfolding events in Rafah”.

Other weapons packages to Israel were also under review, said Matthew Miller, the state department spokesman.

Mr Biden’s administration hopes its decision to pause the munition shipment will force Israel to reconsider its planned ground invasion of Rafah, in the south of Gaza.

But Israeli officials reacted furiously to the decision, questioning the US’s repeated claim to have an “ironclad” commitment to the country’s security.

Mr Erdan told Israel’s Channel 12 news that Mr Biden “can’t say he is our partner in the goal to destroy Hamas, while on the other hand delay the means meant to destroy Hamas”.

It comes after Mr Biden cautioned Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, against the Rafah invasion in a phone call on Monday.

A rift has emerged between the two leaders in recent weeks as Washington has pushed for a ceasefire in Gaza after seven months of conflict and the death of more than 35,000 Palestinians.

American officials have urged Mr Netanyahu to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and reach a hostage-for-ceasefire deal with Hamas in ongoing negotiations in Cairo.

On Wednesday, Mr Austin told the Senate Appropriations Committee that no final decisions had been taken on the high-payload munitions, but confirmed that the Pentagon was concerned about them being used in Rafah.

“We’ve been very clear… that Israel shouldn’t launch a major attack into Rafah without accounting for and protecting the civilians that are in that battlespace,” he said.

“And again as we have assessed the situation, we have paused one shipment of high-payload munitions.”

Republicans immediately urged Mr Biden to reverse the decision, arguing that it would harm Israel’s ability to destroy remaining Hamas battalions it says are sheltering in Rafah.

Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on the US president to drop “his politically-motivated hold”.

“American support for Israel cannot be in doubt, especially now,” she said.

Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican senator, added: “This is obscene. It is absurd. Give Israel what they need.”

Mr Biden was also criticised by John Fetterman, a Democratic senator who has emerged as one of Israel’s biggest supporters in Congress.

“I strongly disagree with this decision and it should be immediately reversed,” he said. “If there are any restrictions, it should be on Hamas, its enablers, and benefactors.”

It comes as it was reported that Israel’s war cabinet last week voted down Mr Netanyahu’s proposal for a full-scale invasion of Rafah, fearing it would damage talks with Hamas.

Everyone present at a government session on Thursday, including war cabinet members and other officials, voted against the proposal because Hamas was seen nearing a hostage deal.

Such a deal was eventually proposed by Hamas on Monday, then shot down by Israel, which said its terms were “unacceptable”. By Monday the war cabinet had also voted unanimously to go ahead with the planned invasion of Rafah.

Israeli officials made it clear on Wednesday that they did not hold much hope for ongoing talks in Cairo, even though a White House spokesman told reporters Israel and Hamas were close enough to an agreement and should be able to close the gaps.

A senior Israeli official was quoted by the Walla news website as saying on Wednesday that “a significant effort” is being made to close the gaps although the Hamas proposal “crosses all the red lines” for Israel.

The proposal for a deal that Hamas agreed on Monday called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, which Mr Netanyahu has already ruled out.

The IDF conducted targeted raids around the Rafah crossing on Wednesday, after launching a “limited” military operation that US and Israeli officials said fell short of a full invasion.

Meanwhile, Israel’s defence minister warned of a “hot summer” on the border with Lebanon as Israel carried out heavy airstrikes there and Hezbollah said it had launched explosive drones and rockets at Israeli targets.

Evacuation orders for the east of Rafah have already forced about 10,000 Palestinians to flee the area, according to a spokeswoman for the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees. She said an estimated 200 people are leaving Rafah each hour.

However, on Wednesday, Israel re-opened one of the two main crossings for aid destined for Gaza, after the UN raised alarm about critically low supplies.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO chief, warned that hospitals in southern Gaza only have three days of fuel left to support their operations.

An Israeli spokesman, however, suggested it was the UN’s fault that they did not have reserves of aid when Israel had to shut down the Kerem Shalom crossing after deadly shelling on Sunday.

The UN should be asked why there is no “surplus” aid in Gaza as trucks have been entering the enclave “day in and day out”, Avi Hyman said.

Western countries and aid organisations have for months been trying to ramp up aid deliveries to Gaza, especially to the worst-hit north of the enclave where a months-long absence of deliveries has led to catastrophic levels of hunger.

The US has responded by building a “pier” for delivery of aid to Gaza directly from the Mediterranean Sea.

A Pentagon spokesman said construction of the pier was now complete and it would be installed on the coastline as soon as possible.