Gaza war: US bomb delay biggest warning yet for Israel - BBC News

By delaying a weapons shipment, the US is finally reaching for its biggest lever of influence over Israel.

23 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, ReutersImage caption, A proposed military operation in the Gazan city of Rafah is one of the reasons for pausing a US bomb shipmentBy James LandaleDiplomatic correspondentThe United States is the one country that has real leverage over Israel. And yet, throughout the war in Gaza, Israel has chosen to ignore much of the advice of its closest ally.

The US government says its support for the war against Hamas is "ironclad", but it has repeatedly raised concerns about the failure of the Israeli army to protect civilians and the lack of humanitarian access afforded to the people of Gaza.

For seven long months, the US has gradually stepped up pressure on Israel. It has advised privately. It has warned publicly. It has stopped vetoing condemnatory resolutions at the United Nations. It has sanctioned Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

In a particularly robust telephone call a month ago, President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he would reduce US support if Israel did not allow fleets of aid lorries to cross the border into Gaza.

And yet, much of this counsel and cajoling has fallen on deaf ears. So now the US is beginning to wield its biggest stick.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68978322

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