The US officially confirms blocking an ammunition shipment to Israel. Austin: “They shouldn’t launch a major attack on Rafah without protecting civilians”

President Joe Biden’s decision to suspend the delivery of high-yield munitions to Israel was taken in the context of Israel’s plans to launch an offensive in Rafah that Washington opposes in the absence of new safeguards for civilian lives, the US defense secretary said on Wednesday , Lloyd Austin, reports Reuters, taken over by Agerpres.

“We were very clear (…) from the very beginning that Israel should not launch a major attack in Rafah without taking into account and protecting the civilians who are in that battle space. And again, as we assessed the situation, we interrupted a shipment of munitions with a payload,” Austin told a US Senate hearing.

“We haven’t made a final decision on how to proceed with that shipment,” the Pentagon chief added.

The US no longer supplies ammunition over 225 kilograms

A senior US official said on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity, that the United States suspended a shipment of bombs last week after Israel failed to respond to Washington’s “concerns” about the announced offensive in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

“We suspended the delivery of a shipment of weapons last week. It consisted of 1,800 bombs of 2,000 pounds (907 kg) and 1,700 bombs of 500 pounds (226 kg),” said this senior official of the Biden administration, quoted by AFP.

He added that Washington was particularly concerned about the use of bombs heavier than 225 kilograms and “the impact they could have in congested urban environments as we have seen in other parts of Gaza.”

The State Department is also examining other arms transfers, including the use of precision bombs known as JDAMs (remotely guided bombs), the US official added.

The Israeli army on Monday asked residents of the eastern part of Rafah to leave the area, raising fears that the ground attack that Israel has been threatening for months will finally take place. According to UNRWA (UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees) estimates, every hour an average of 200 Palestinians leave the city of Rafah following the evacuation order given by Israel, reports dpa.

“Displacement is ongoing and people are leaving for Khan Younis and the areas in between,” UNRWA’s director of communications, Juliette Touma, told dpa on Wednesday. “It is not possible to give a total number of displaced people at this time given how fluid the situation is,” she added.

A senior UNRWA official told CNN on Wednesday that around 50,000 people have left Rafah since Monday. Rafah is home to up to 1.5 million Palestinians displaced from other areas of the enclave. Despite the intensification of military operations, a total invasion has not yet taken place.

The Israeli army said it destroyed tunnels and other military installations during its advance in eastern Rafah. An unspecified number of enemies were killed in the fighting and more than 100 targets were attacked from the air throughout the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said on Wednesday.