Republican senators have united in denouncing the Biden administration for what they perceive as a 'partial arms embargo against Israel' amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The criticism was led by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who accused President Biden of emboldening Israel's enemies by delaying the shipment of weapons.
The senators highlighted a recent deadly attack on Israel's northern border by Hezbollah, resulting in the tragic deaths of 12 children and teens. They emphasized that this attack was the deadliest in the region since October 7.
In May, it was revealed that the Biden administration had placed a hold on the transfer of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel. This decision was made as part of a review of proposed weapons transfers to Gaza, where the administration sought to discourage a potential ground invasion by Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed frustration over the delay in weapons shipments, urging the administration to provide the necessary tools to expedite the conflict resolution. The Republican senators criticized the administration for undermining the long-standing military cooperation between the U.S. and Israel, questioning the reliability of the U.S. as a security partner.
Lawmakers highlighted that the delay in weapons shipments contradicted the will of Congress, which had previously approved a $95 billion foreign aid package that included assistance for Israel. The senators accused President Biden of ignoring multiple inquiries from Congress regarding the arms shipments, putting Israel's security at risk.
The Republican senators concluded by urging President Biden to swiftly deliver the approved weapons and ammunition to Israel to ensure the safety of both Israeli citizens and American servicemembers in the region. The White House and the State Department did not provide immediate comments on the matter.
