Last week, the United States decided to put a temporary hold on sending a shipment of bombs to Israel due to fears that Israel was on the brink of launching a significant attack on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. The concern stemmed from the potential use of these bombs within the densely populated urban setting of Rafah, which could exacerbate civilian casualties and human suffering.
This move by the US administration comes in the context of a conflict between Israel and Hamas, with over 1 million civilians seeking refuge in Rafah after fleeing other parts of Gaza amidst the ongoing violence. The decision to pause the bomb shipment highlights the tension between the US and Israel, as the White House has been vocal in its opposition to Israel's escalation towards a full-scale assault on Rafah. President Joe Biden's administration had been reviewing military aid transfers to Israel since April, particularly amid signals that Israel was leaning towards an invasion of Rafah despite objections from the US government.