According to an NBC News report, the Biden administration is considering curbing arms sales to Israel to limit its military operations in Gaza.
NBC News reported, citing three current U.S. officials and one former official, that the Biden administration is discussing slowing some arms sales to Israel to persuade Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to limit his military assault in Gaza. The sources told NBC that the government is considering what possible weapons could be used to pressure Netanyahu, but that no final decision has been made yet.
The U.S. has supported Israel in its war against the militant group Hamas since the group's attack on Israel last October, but tensions between Biden and Netanyahu are becoming increasingly public on the world stage, particularly over who controls Gaza after the war and disunity about the two-state solution solution.
The Biden administration asked Congress for $10.6 billion in additional aid for Israel in a supplemental funding request last year, but the full request is stalled in Congress as senators try to negotiate a border security agreement as part of the request package. The Biden administration has twice approved emergency arms sales to Israel that have escaped congressional review.
A White House official told The Hill that there has been “no request” from the White House to the Defense Department to slow any arms sales to Israel. The official also said the White House was not aware of any request that would examine which weapons it might “slow down.”
According to NBC's sources, Israeli officials have continued to ask the US for more weapons, including aerial bombs, ammunition and air defense systems. Officials have discussed using 155mm artillery shells and joint direct attack munitions as leverage to pressure Israel into opening humanitarian corridors to civilians, NBC News reported.
The outlet noted that government officials are more focused on potentially slowing offensive weapons than defensive weapons like air defense. Officials also considered offering Israel more of the weapons it demanded to persuade it to agree to some U.S. demands, the report said.
The US is increasing pressure on Israel to limit its operations in Gaza and take measures to protect civilian life. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said earlier this month that it was the “right time” for Israel to scale back its war in Gaza.
The sources told NBC that government officials were frustrated that Israel had not always heeded their calls to minimize the threat to civilians.
A National Security Council spokesman said in a statement to The Hill that the U.S. has not changed its policy toward Israel.
“As the president has made clear, he believes the approach he took was more effective,” the spokesman said. “Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself against the threat posed by Hamas, while respecting international humanitarian law and protecting the lives of civilians. We remain committed to supporting Israel in its fight against Hamas. We have been doing this since October 7th and will continue to do so. Nothing changes in our policy.”
The Hill has reached out to the Pentagon for comment.
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