US delays bomb deliveries to Israel due to its Rafah operation

The United States last week delayed the delivery of 3,500 bombs to Israel due to concerns that the shells could be used during an operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. This is reported The New York Times And Associated Press with reference to sources.

According to media interlocutors, Washington is now considering suspending future deliveries of weapons, including guidance systems.

Earlier this week, Axios sources spoke about the suspension of arms supplies to Israel, but there was no official confirmation of this. CNN’s interlocutors said that the break in the supply of weapons to the Israeli side was not related to the operation in Rafah.

Israel launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas group, designated a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, attacked the south of the country on October 7. Then more than 1,200 civilians were killed, more than 250 people were taken hostage and taken to Gaza. Israel has stated that its goal is the complete destruction of Hamas. Israeli authorities call Rafah the last stronghold of jihadists.

The United States warned Israel against conducting a military operation in southern Gaza. Washington drew attention to the fact that there are about a million refugees in Rafah.

On Tuesday, May 7, the Israel Defense Forces established control over the Rafah checkpoint from the Gaza Strip, on the border with Egypt. Military reportedthat 20 Hamas members were killed during the ground operation.

After Israel brought equipment and troops into Rafah, Hamas announced its agreement to a ceasefire in Gaza. Representatives of the group informed Qatar and Egypt about this, who acted as mediators.

Many countries accuse Israel of excessive cruelty towards civilians. The Israeli military says it is only attacking the group’s infrastructure and claims Hamas is locating its facilities in densely populated areas, using civilians as human shields.

The Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health claims that more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the strip since the start of hostilities. There is no independent confirmation of these data.