The Biden administration has made the decision to resume the shipment of 500-pound bombs to Israel, following a pause that lasted over two months. This move comes after concerns were raised about the use of heavy munitions by Israel in their Rafah operation, particularly the larger 2,000-pound bombs.
Initially, both 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs were put on hold due to worries about civilian casualties in Gaza resulting from the use of these munitions. While one shipment of the 2,000-pound bombs remains suspended, the Wall Street Journal has reported that the 500-pound bomb shipment has been given the green light.
President Joe Biden expressed his concerns about the impact of the 2,000-pound bombs on civilians in Gaza, which led to the temporary halt in shipments. However, the US officials clarified that their main worry was the use of the larger bombs, not the 500-pound ones, in densely populated areas.
According to the officials, the decision to pause both types of bombs was due to the fact that multiple munitions are often included in the shipments, and there was a possibility of co-mingling. Since the concern was primarily focused on the 2,000-pound bombs, the 500-pound bombs are now being allowed to proceed as part of the regular process.
It is important to note that the resumption of the 500-pound bomb shipment does not indicate a shift in the US stance on the conflict in the region. The decision was made based on specific concerns related to the use of heavier munitions, while the smaller bombs were deemed less problematic in this context.
