The decision comes amid international outrage over civilian deaths.
The decision was based on a review the administration began in April of proposed transfers of weapons that might be used in the densely populated city, according to a senior administration official.
Discussions with Israeli officials about how to meet the humanitarian needs of civilians with Rafah “have not fully addressed our concerns,” the official said.
“As Israeli leaders seemed to approach a decision point on such an operation, we began to carefully review proposed transfers of particular weapons to Israel that might be used in Rafah,” the official said, noting that the U.S. focused particularly on the 2,000-lb bombs and “the impact they could have in dense urban settings as we have seen in other parts of Gaza.”
Israel depends heavily on the United States to arm its military, especially for air defense batteries like those used alongside American forces to knock down nearly all of the more than 300 missiles and drones fired at it by Iran last month. The successful defense underscored how critical American help has been for Israel’s security.
The much-awaited report could set the stage for a fierce debate about American responsibility for Israel’s war, which has already touched off widespread protests on college campuses. A finding that Israel has violated the law would exponentially increase pressure on Mr. Biden to further curb arms deliveries, while a finding that Israel has conducted its war legally would surely fuel protests and draw further complaints from congressional Democrats.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/07/us/politics/israel-biden-arms.html