The Biden administration has withheld shipments of two types of precision bombs made by Boeing, seeking to send a political message to Israel, according to a U.S. official and six other people familiar with the deliberations. This action marks a significant shift in US arms policy toward Israel.
The pending sale of joint direct attack munitions and small diameter bombs has not yet been signed off by the United States, six industry and congressional sources revealed. According to a Biden administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the administration has not formally denied the sale, but has postponed approvals and other arms transfer procedures to communicate his message to Israel.
This delay is the first since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. President Joe Biden, who has come under pressure from within his party to condition aid to Israel, faces criticism from his party over the humanitarian consequences of the Israeli campaign in Gaza and accusations of attacks on humanitarian convoys.
A senior congressional aide and two other people, who also requested anonymity, confirmed that the munitions were already ready to be shipped to Israel when the hold was announced. An industry official mentioned that the administration instructed Boeing to stop shipping due to “political reasons,” ruling out issues related to the supply chain. Another congressional aide described the situation as a “delay” in a process that is usually a direct commercial sale between Israel and the contractor, but requires approval from the US government.
US withholds shipments of precision bombs to Israel
Axios was the first to report the US’s retention of unspecified weapons, while the Wall Street Journal revealed that the retention involved JDAM ammunition. Recent reports add that small diameter bombs are also being withheld, a detail that has not been previously disclosed.
Representatives from the State Department and the Pentagon declined to comment on these reports. However, Major General Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters on Monday that he was not aware of any changes in US policy regarding conditioning aid to Israel.
This news comes after 48 hours of intense events in the war between Israel and Hamas. Following the rocket attack, which left Israeli soldiers dead, Israel ordered the evacuation of 100,000 civilians in Rafah to a safe area. Later, Hamas unexpectedly announced that it had accepted a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar, different from a version previously approved by Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces launched a new operation in Gaza, targeting terrorists and described as an effort to apply military pressure on Hamas, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu stated that the operation would continue to pressure Hamas.
In this context, a 30-minute call between Biden and Netanyahu on Monday reflected the urgency of the situation. For months, US officials have warned Israel against launching operations in Rafah, where more than a million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge.
The delay in arms shipments signals a new US approach to quietly pressure Israel, avoiding a dramatic and public cessation of military aid altogether. The Biden administration appears frustrated with Israel’s handling of the situation for Palestinian civilians in Gaza and is opting for a more subtle tactic, possibly hoping that this will motivate the Israeli government to modify its approach toward a possible full invasion of Rafah.
US Congress delays arms sales to Israel
While some arms sales to Israel have been approved by the Biden administration, their progress has stalled in Congress. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has delayed approving an $18 billion sale of F-15 jets and other munitions to Israel for months. Unlike precision munitions that are on hold, delivery of the F-15 aircraft would take years to complete.
Additionally, the Biden administration must inform Congress by Wednesday whether Israel has violated international law or restricted humanitarian aid to Gaza, which could increase demands to stop US arms shipments to Israel. In February, the administration issued a memorandum requiring recipients of U.S. military aid to ensure compliance with U.S. laws, and for the State Department to evaluate these assurances.
Pressure on Biden to withhold offensive weapons from Israel intensifies following Israel’s attacks in Rafah. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has been a critical voice, arguing that the U.S. should not support an invasion that would result in “untold additional civilian casualties and a devastating impact on humanitarian aid.” In a statement, Van Hollen urged the administration to pause the delivery of offensive weapons funded by American taxpayers until Israel addresses Biden’s demands regarding his conduct in the war.
“It is crucial that the president and the United States use all available political tools to enforce this position,” Van Hollen said, pledging to continue pressing the administration to take concrete steps in response to the Netanyahu government’s actions.
