Tensions are high between the United States and Israel after NBC News reported rumors that Washington is considering suspending or slowing some arms shipments to Tel Aviv. The aim would be to convince the government of this Benjamin Netanyahu to moderate military operations in Gaza Strip. The denial came promptly from a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, but the latest news comes after weeks of rumors of a deep crisis between Biden and Bibi.
However, the sources NBC had access to for its exclusive broadcast are solid. Three Democratic administration officials and a former US official told the broadcaster that the president had asked the Pentagon to provide a list of weapons, mostly assault weapons, used as political leverage could. These include 155 mm artillery shells and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), which enable more precise attacks. However, no slowdown in the delivery of air defense systems and other systems that allow Israeli civilians to protect themselves from terrorist attacks was expected. Hamas.
The insiders clarified that no decision was made after the review and the idea of offering the Netanyahu government more weapons than those requested as an incentive to implement Washington's initiatives, such as the opening of humanitarian corridors. But considering such measures would be a sign of American frustration with the way the IDF is waging the war against Islamist militants in the Gaza Strip.
The Jewish state “has the right and duty to defend itself against the threat of Hamas, to respect international humanitarian law and to protect the lives of civilians, and 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,” the spokesperson clarified White House who further added that “there has been no change in our policy.” Washington then said that the pressure the president has put on Bibi in recent weeks had produced some results, but a source quoted by NBC said “there is still a lot of work to be done” by the Israeli government “We have to show “more” carefully”.
Despite the democratic government's public assurances aimed at confirming the connection with Tel Aviv, several commentators emphasize the difficulties it has encountered Biden both domestically and with its international partners in the Middle East for failing to contain the military operations of Tsahal forces. According to recent estimates, despite thousands of civilian casualties in Gaza, Tel Aviv would have managed to eliminate at most 30% of Hamas fighters and destroy only 20% of the tunnels built by the Fedayeen.