By Steve Holland, Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump has instructed the U.S. navy to launch a maintain imposed by former President Joe Biden on the availability of two,000-pound bombs to Israel, a White Home supply advised Reuters on Saturday.
The transfer was broadly anticipated. Biden put the maintain on the supply of these bombs as a consequence of concern over the influence they might have on the civilian inhabitants, significantly in Gaza’s Rafah, throughout Israel’s battle within the Palestinian enclave.
“A lot of things that were ordered and paid for by Israel, but have not been sent by Biden, are now on their way!” Trump mentioned on the Reality Social media platform with out offering additional particulars.
Trump and Biden have been robust supporters of U.S. ally Israel, at the same time as Washington has come beneath criticism from human rights advocates over the humanitarian disaster in Gaza from Israel’s navy assault towards the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Protesters have unsuccessfully demanded an arms embargo.
A ceasefire went into impact every week in the past and has led to the discharge of some Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas in change for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Earlier than his inauguration on Jan. 20, Trump had warned there can be “hell to pay” if hostages held by Hamas in Gaza weren’t launched.
Hamas took round 250 hostages throughout an Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel through which about 1,200 folks have been killed, in response to Israeli tallies. It sparked the newest bloodshed within the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian battle.
Israel’s subsequent navy assault on Gaza has killed greater than 47,000 folks, in response to the Gaza well being ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and battle crimes that Israel denies. It additionally displaced almost Gaza’s total inhabitants and precipitated a starvation disaster.
Washington says it’s serving to Israel defend towards Iran-backed militant teams like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
