Suspension of US weapons to Israel

 

 

 

 

By Girish Linganna 

 

 

THE United States authorities have decided to stop a major delivery of weapons to Israel due to concerns about the potential consequences of a large military operation being planned by Israeli forces in Rafah. Rafah is a heavily populated city in southern Gaza, where over a million Palestinians currently reside. The Biden administration, in response to the Israeli Government’s determination to proceed with the Rafah offensive regardless of US support, confirmed that the delivery of approximately 1,800 2,000-pound bombs (900 kg) and 1,700 smaller 500-pound (226 kg) bombs has been temporarily halted by the Pentagon. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have frequently employed both types of weapons in Gaza, primarily to target and disrupt the tunnel network utilised by Hamas beneath the territory. However, their use has sometimes resulted in unintended harm to surrounding areas. In a recent CNN interview on May 8, President Biden expressed concern about civilian casualties in Gaza resulting from the bombings and other strategies targeting populated areas. He acknowledged that the 2,000-pound (900 Kg) bombs sent to Israel may have unintentionally caused harm to civilians.

 

Biden stated that he wanted to clarify that, as of now, there have been no military actions in Rafah. However, he emphasised that if any such actions were to take place in the future, he would not supply the weapons historically used to address the situation in Rafah and other cities. Biden’s remarks received strong criticism both within Israel and among supporters of Israel in the United States. They argue that Biden’s actions effectively create a restrictions or blockade against its ally during a time of war. The Biden administration has shown strong support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Government in its efforts to combat Hamas. The campaign was initiated by the militant group’s attack on October 7th, which resulted in the loss of 1,200 lives in southern Israel. A recent report from an independent task force, commissioned by the US State and Defence Departments, revealed that around 300,000 explosive devices were utilised in Gaza during the first six months of the conflict. This data was reported on Newsweek.com. In the months following the conflict, the United States has expedited the provision of weapons to its ally, despite the extensive destruction in Gaza caused by Israel’s offensive.

 

According to ‘The Associated Press’, citing information from the Gaza Health Ministry run by Hamas, the offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians. The US decision to suspend the shipment of weapons included two varieties of bombs that have been commonly employed in various conflicts worldwide since the 1950s. These bombs are the Mark 84 or BLU-117 bombs, which are the largest in the Mark 80 series, and the Mark 82 bombs, which are smaller in size but intended to have a wider impact. The usage of these bombs during the Vietnam War led to substantial harm to civilians and widespread destruction. Israel has been employing these categories of bombs since the conflict started in October 2023, yet they have not made an official confirmation regarding their utilisation. These bombs have mainly been aimed at targeting Hamas’ extensive tunnel network in Gaza. However, according to experts, the use of these bombs has led to the loss of lives of numerous individuals in densely populated regions.

 

The Mark 84 bomb is recognized for its ability to create craters with a diameter of 50 feet and penetrate up to 15 inches of metal. These 15-foot bombs encased in steel produce a powerful supersonic pressure wave upon explosion, making them highly destructive in urban environments such as Rafah. During the Persian Gulf War, the Mark 82 bomb was used to attack Iraqi military structures. This bomb is designed for lower altitude release and can be modified with guidance kits to improve accuracy and minimize unintended damage. Lower altitude release refers to the act of releasing the bomb at a relatively close distance to the ground or target area, rather than from a higher altitude. The deployment of these bombs has faced international scrutiny even before October 7. In previous events like the Iraq War and subsequent conflicts in the Middle East, both bombs were used in urban locations, raising concerns about the ethical implications and justification of employing such powerful weapons in densely populated areas.

 

Human rights organizations have often pointed out cases where the deployment of Mark 84 and Mark 82 bombs caused harm to civilians. Due to their high lethality in densely populated regions, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry, which investigated the 2014 Gaza war, cautioned that these weapons likely violate the prohibition on indiscriminate attacks. On Friday, Hamas stated that efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza had faltered following Israel’s rejection of a plan proposed by international mediators. Simultaneously, the White House is making efforts to maintain dialogue between the parties, even if it’s only through virtual channels. Despite strong opposition from the US, Israel has decided to continue with a military operation in Rafah, a southern city in Gaza. This area has become a sanctuary for over a million displaced individuals and is also reported to be a stronghold for Hamas militants. (IPA)