The United States has decided to resume shipments of 500-pound bombs to Israel after previously pausing the delivery of these munitions due to concerns about their potential use in densely populated areas of Gaza.
The Biden administration had halted the shipment of both 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs in May, citing the risk of significant civilian casualties if these munitions were used in Gaza, particularly in the crowded city of Rafah. However, it has now been clarified that the 500-pound bombs were only delayed because they were part of the same shipment as the larger bombs. The smaller bombs will now proceed as planned.
The resumed shipments come as Israel continues its military operations across the Gaza Strip. Recently, Israel has warned residents of Gaza City to move to safer areas, indicating ongoing combat operations.
The initial pause on the munitions shipment was driven by concerns from the White House about the impact of such powerful weapons in densely populated areas. This move was intended to ensure that any military actions taken by Israel would minimize civilian casualties, especially in regions like Rafah where many Palestinians had sought refuge.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously expressed frustration over the hold on these weapons, arguing that the delay was unjustified. Despite this, diplomatic efforts, including a visit by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to Washington, have helped address some of these disagreements and led to the partial resumption of shipments.
A US official emphasized that the primary concern remains the potential use of 2,000-pound bombs in populated areas, which is why these larger munitions are still being withheld. The 500-pound bombs, which are now moving forward, have a significant blast radius but are considered to pose less risk of mass civilian casualties compared to the larger bombs.
The administration’s decision to resume the shipment of 500-pound bombs is likely to spark debate among those concerned about continued US support for Israel amidst the Gaza conflict. The administration has maintained that its primary concern is the potential for civilian casualties resulting from the use of larger munitions.
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