The United States has announced the temporary suspension of bomb deliveries to Israel in order to prevent civilian casualties in Palestine from an all-out Israeli attack on Hamas. However, the conflict has already spread to Rafah, the southern city in Gaza with the highest population density, where Israel is planning a full-scale assault on Hamas.
Israel has vowed to completely destroy Hamas, with its forces uncovering Hamas infrastructure in several locations in eastern Rafah and carrying out targeted attacks on the Rafah port on the Gaza side. Additionally, airstrikes have been conducted across the Gaza Strip.
Civilians have been advised by the Israeli military to evacuate to the Ma’wasi area, approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) away, as many have already been displaced multiple times. The Mayor of Rafah, Ahmed Al-Sofi, stated that the coastal region lacks all “necessities of life.”
On Tuesday, Israeli tanks entered the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, with the military describing it as a “precision operation” targeting the Hamas terrorist organization.
Israel also announced the reopening of another crossing point, Kerem Shalom, in the southern Gaza region.
A United Nations official expressed concern that due to the military operation, no fuel or aid is entering Gaza, leading to a “disastrous” humanitarian situation where over half of the population is suffering from famine.
Those in conflict areas are crowded in tent camps and makeshift shelters, facing shortages of food, water, and medicines.
Hamas claims to be engaged in combat with Israeli forces in eastern Rafah.
An anonymous senior U.S. official revealed that last week, the U.S. suspended bomb shipments to Israel for the first time since providing “ironclad” support following Hamas’s attack on October 7. Washington is Israel’s closest ally and primary weapons supplier.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the decision was made in light of Israel’s plans to attack Rafah, emphasizing Washington’s opposition to an Israeli assault on Rafah without civilian protections.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan called Washington’s decision “very disappointing,” but he does not believe the U.S. will halt arms supplies to Israel.
Erdan told Israel’s Channel 12 News that President Biden “cannot claim to be our partner in destroying Hamas while delaying the means to do so.”
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh reiterated during a press briefing on Tuesday that “our commitment to Israel’s security remains unwavering.”