US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday defended the decision to pause the delivery of 3,500 bombs to Israel over concerns they could be used in Rafah, saying Israel has no “credible plan” to protect the 1.4 million civilians sheltered there.
Speaking on ABC News’ This Week, Blinken said President Joe Biden remains committed to helping Israel defend itself and that the delivery of 3,500 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs is the only U.S. arms package that has been withheld.
That could change, he said, if Israel launched an all-out attack on Rafah, Blinken said, according to France 24.
“Biden made it clear to Israel that if they “launch this major military operation on the Rafah, then there are certain systems that we will not support and supply for that operation,” said Blinken.
“We are really concerned about the way they are being used. Israel should have a clear, credible plan for the protection of civilians, which we have not seen yet,” he stressed.
