House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have jointly criticized President Joe Biden's administration for pausing the transfer of bombs to Israel. In a strongly worded letter, they expressed concerns about the impact of the pause on Israel's security.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the US had paused a shipment of bombs to Israel due to concerns that they could be used in a ground operation in Rafah without a clear plan to protect civilians in the area.
Johnson and McConnell have requested a response from the administration by the end of the week regarding any potential further delays in weapons transfers as a result of the ongoing review process.
Meanwhile, the State Department has delayed the delivery of a report to Congress on whether Israel has violated international humanitarian law during the recent conflict in Gaza. A spokesperson cited the need to finalize the report before submitting it to Congress.
The joint letter from Johnson and McConnell underscores the ongoing scrutiny and debate surrounding US military support for Israel and the broader implications for regional security and humanitarian concerns.
