The US administration has blocked a shipment of US-made ammunition to Israel. Two Israeli officials reported this to “Axios”, according to which it is the first time since the October 7 attack that the United States has blocked a shipment of weapons destined for the Israeli army. The incident has raised serious concerns within the Israeli government, the same sources said. President Joe Biden is facing harsh criticism from a growing portion of the U.S. public that opposes his support for Israel. In February the US administration asked Israel to provide guarantees that US-made weapons would be used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza, in accordance with international law. Israel provided a signed letter of assurances in March.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made several statements in recent days saying he intends to order the invasion of Rafah regardless of whether Israel and Hamas reach an agreement on the release of hostages held in Gaza and a ceasefire. Netanyahu hinted at tensions with the Biden administration in a statement released today on Holocaust Remembrance Day. «During the terrible Holocaust, there were great world leaders who stood by and watched; therefore, the first lesson of the Holocaust is: if we do not defend ourselves, no one will defend us. And if we need to act alone, we will be alone,” he said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel last Wednesday and had a “tough” conversation with Netanyahu regarding a possible Israeli operation in Rafah, sources informed of the meeting told “Axios”, according to which Blinken said to Netanyahu that “a major military operation” in Rafah would lead the United States to publicly oppose it and would have a negative impact on US-Israel relations.
