Notable things about the US stopping arms aid to Israel

The US suspension of weapons shipments comes as the Israeli Prime Minister continues his military offensive on the city of Rafah in Gaza, despite opposition from US President Joe Biden.

The shipment, which has been delayed by at least two weeks, includes 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 smaller bombs, according to US officials. It also includes Boeing-made joint direct attack munitions, which convert dud bombs into precision-guided bombs, as well as the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB-1). The SDB-1 is a precision-guided glide bomb that carries 250 pounds of explosives.

They were part of a previously approved shipment to Israel, not the recent $95 billion additional aid package that the US Congress passed in April.

Military vehicles near the Israeli border. Photo: Reuters

Why did the US stop sending bombs to Israel?

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on May 8 that the US was "providing short-term security assistance in light of ongoing events in Rafah."

Explaining the decision to halt the weapons shipments, an unnamed US official said it was due to concerns about "the ultimate use of the 2,000-pound bombs and the impact they could have in densely populated urban areas in Gaza", including Rafah.

US officials said the decision was made last week. President Biden was directly involved and confirmed the pause in an interview on May 8.

Asked about bombs sent to Israel, he said: "Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a result of those bombs and other attacks on population centres."

How destructive is a 907 kg bomb?

Large bombs like the 907kg bomb have a wide-area impact. According to the United Nations, the force of the blast can rupture lungs, rupture sinuses and sever limbs hundreds of metres from the blast site.

In 2022, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported that the widespread use of explosives in densely populated areas was "highly likely to cause indiscriminate effects or violate the principle of proportionality".

How did Israel react to the US decision?

Israel says its sole objective is to destroy Hamas, while denying targeting Palestinian civilians. Israel says it will take every precaution to avoid unnecessary deaths.

After the US decision was announced, a senior Israeli official refused to confirm the information. "If we have to fight with our fingernails, we will do what we have to do," the source said. A military spokesman said any disagreements were resolved privately.

Are these bombs legal for Israel to use in Gaza?

This is still a hotly debated issue.

International humanitarian law does not explicitly prohibit aerial bombing of populated areas, however the target must not be civilians, and the specific military objective must be proportionate to the civilian casualties or damage that may result.

Has the US ever refused military aid to Israel before?

In 1982, then-US President Ronald Reagan imposed a six-year ban on cluster bomb sales to Israel, after a US congressional investigation found that Israel had used them in populated areas during the 1982 conflict with Lebanon.

Under President George W. Bush, Israel's use of US-made cluster bombs was also considered due to concerns they would be used in the 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nhung-dieu-dang-chu-y-ve-viec-my-dung-vien-tro-vu-khi-cho-israel-post294816.html