The Biden administration is discussing using weaponry sales to Israel as leverage to convince the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to heed long-standing U.S. calls to scale back its military assault in the Gaza Strip
White house directed the pentagon to review the weaponry ordered by Israel that could be used as leverage.
According to the sources Israeli officials continue to ask for more weapons from US including large aerial bombs, ammunition and air defences.
As per sources, US is considering slowing down the deliveries in the hope to pursue Israelis to take actions such as opening humanitarian corridors and increasing aid to Palestinian civilians.
Weapons including 155mm artillery rounds and joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs), which are guidance kits that convert dumb bombs into precision guided munitions are being considered to be used as leverage.
However, the US is likely to continue its supply of other conversion kits that makes Israeli munitions more accurate.
Officials said they are not likely to slow the delivery of air defences, though the idea was considered.
Biden administration is more focused on the offensive weapons and equipment that they could withhold or delay.
This comes after President Joe Biden and his national security team failed to convince Netanyahu and other Israeli officials to dramatically change tactics in Gaza and to take more steps to minimize civilian casualties, officials said.
Democrats in congress wants Biden to do more to pressurize Netanyahu
“As the president has made clear, he believes that the approach he has pursued has been more effective,” spokesperson of National Security Council.
Biden has said for weeks that he is doing everything to get Israel to change its military tactics.
“I’ve been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza,” Biden said on Jan. 8 when confronted by protesters calling for a cease-fire. “I’ve been using all that I can to do that.”
“There’s a lot more that needs to be done and they need to be more careful about,” the official said, speaking on the conditions of anonymity to talk candidly.
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