In a conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Israel a few days ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to information from the “Bild” newspaper, emphatically called for the immediate resumption and expansion of American arms deliveries to his country, which had been partially interrupted in recent months.
Netanyahu stressed that despite the significant support the US provided at the beginning of the conflict, the recent suspension of arms deliveries had undermined Israel’s deterrence. And warned that this could lead to a prolongation and expansion of the conflict. Apparently with success: The US now appears to be moving.
After Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations invaded southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage to the Gaza Strip, Israel’s army began an offensive in the coastal strip. More than 30,000 Palestinians are said to have died since then, but these figures cannot be independently verified.
Washington had declared a major attack on the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt a “red line” out of concern that there would be too many more civilian casualties, threatened to halt deliveries and stopped the delivery of certain weapons as a precaution. According to American media reports from May, these included kits for unguided bombs with a small diameter. The news agencies AFP and AP reported at the time, citing a high-ranking US government official, that the deliveries were to include 1,800 907-kilogram bombs and 1,700 226-kilogram bombs.
Since the warnings from the USA, the Israeli army has tried to advance on Rafah with comparative caution and even announced a “tactical pause” in southern Gaza at the weekend to allow more aid deliveries.
According to Bild, in his conversation with Blinken, Netanyahu stressed that Israel was in a war for its survival. He stressed that the lack of military support from the US and the impression that the two countries were not in agreement had emboldened opponents such as Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas.
The Israeli Prime Minister made it clear that his country would continue to defend itself with the means at its disposal. He explained to Blinken that resuming arms deliveries was crucial to prevent an escalation of the conflict on other fronts. Israel is facing attacks not only in the Gaza Strip, but also in the north, from the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, which operates from Lebanon.
According to the information, the American Secretary of State stated that the US is continuing to supply weapons systems to Israel – and that it will lift restrictions in the coming days. Netanyahu instructed Defense Minister Joav Galant, Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and Chairman of the National Security Council Zachi Ha-Negbi to ensure that arms deliveries are resumed at their upcoming meetings in the United States.