Biden halts bomb deliveries to Israel amid Gaza civilian deaths
The United States has halted the delivery of bombs to Israel, announced President Joe Biden. "Civilians are dying in Gaza because of these bombings and other forms of attacks on populated areas," the President of the USA stated.
6:13 AM EDT, May 9, 2024
On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden revealed that the shipment of bombs to Israel, intended for the conflict with Hamas, has been suspended to prevent their use in killing Palestinian civilians.
"Civilians are dying in Gaza as a result of these bombs being dropped and other attack methods on population centers," Joe Biden stated during an interview with CNN regarding the bombs sent to Israel.
USA opposes assault
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Wednesday that the USA has halted an ammunition shipment to Israel due to Israel's plans for a military operation in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip. He mentioned that his department is reviewing future shipments.
Austin confirmed reports about the halt of the ammunition delivery to Israel at a Senate Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations hearing. The decision was tied to Israel's plans to conduct an operation in Rafah, the last stronghold of Hamas, where simultaneously over a million Palestinian civilians have sought refuge.
"From the start, our position was clear that Israel should not start a major assault on Rafah without ensuring the safety of the civilians present in the area. After reviewing the situation, we stopped a shipment of ammunition," Austin explained.
WHO raises alarm
Hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip only have three days' worth of fuel left, warned the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on X platform on Wednesday.
"Hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip are down to just three days of fuel, which means they could soon be out of operation," Tedros Ghebreyesus posted.
"One of the three hospitals in Rafah, Al-Najjar, has already ceased operations due to the ongoing conflict nearby and the military operation in Rafah," stressed the WHO leader. He also noted that the closure of a border crossing continues to block UN fuel deliveries. "Without it, all humanitarian efforts will grind to a halt," he warned.
The fuel is essential for operating generators that power the hospitals.
Israel's plan to storm Rafah
The Israeli army executed airstrikes and "targeted" operations in Rafah on Wednesday. The day before, it had taken control of the city's border crossing, which was crucial for providing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
"At a time when it is crucial to scale up limited humanitarian efforts, the military operation in Rafah further restricts our ability to reach thousands living under tragic conditions, without food, sanitation, adequate healthcare, or security. This must stop," Tedros Ghebreyesus urged.
Rafah remains the last stronghold of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas and a refuge for a large portion of the Gaza Strip's population, fleeing from other areas affected by the war. Estimates suggest that 1.4 million of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are taking shelter in the city.
