Is Israel’s Use of U.S. Weapons Fueling the Gaza Crisis?

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has intensified, with significant impacts on civilians in Gaza. Recent Israeli airstrikes, particularly in Rafah, have led to a mounting humanitarian crisis, sparking international outcry and complicating aid delivery efforts.

A deadly Israeli airstrike near Rafah on Sunday killed at least 45 Palestinians, including children, and injured over 240 others.

Analysis by The New York Times, supported by weapons experts, identified the munitions used as GBU-39 bombs, which are precision-guided and manufactured in the United States. These bombs are designed to minimize collateral damage in urban settings, but their use in densely populated areas like Rafah has led to significant civilian casualties.

U.S. officials have encouraged Israel to use these precision bombs to reduce civilian harm.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed that the smallest available munitions, with 17 kilograms of explosives, were used in an attempt to target Hamas leaders specifically.

Despite these precautions, the resulting explosion and fires caused extensive civilian casualties, raising questions about the effectiveness and appropriateness of such strikes in populated areas.

John Kirby, a White House spokesman, commented on the situation, stating, “The word tragic doesn’t even begin to describe the deaths from the Israeli strike in Rafah. We don’t want to see a major ground operation, and we haven’t seen that.“

The strike has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack and highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.

“The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is now compounded by the unconscionable prospect of a man-made famine,” Guterres said.

The U.N. Security Council convened an emergency meeting to address the crisis, with France’s ambassador emphasizing the lack of safe zones for civilians in Rafah and advocating for a resolution demanding a ceasefire.

“There is no safe zone for Palestinian civilians in Rafah,” stated Nicolas de Rivière, France’s ambassador to the U.N.

Despite these appeals, the United States has blocked previous ceasefire resolutions, complicating efforts to halt the violence. Diplomatic negotiations mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar have yet to produce a sustainable ceasefire agreement.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated, worsened by logistical challenges and ongoing conflict.

A temporary pier constructed by the U.S. military to aid in delivering supplies to Gaza was recently damaged by rough seas. This $320 million pier, operational since mid-May, has faced numerous obstacles, including looting and adverse weather conditions. Repairs are underway, but the disruption has significantly hindered aid deliveries.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported severe difficulties in distributing aid due to heavy movement restrictions, continuous airstrikes, and a critical lack of fuel.

Juliette Touma, an UNRWA spokeswoman, noted the shrinking humanitarian space and the growing dangers faced by aid workers in Rafah.

“The humanitarian space is shrinking by the hour, by the day, because of all the restrictions placed on us,” Touma said.

The U.S. administration has expressed concern over civilian casualties but maintains that the recent Israeli airstrike did not cross President Biden’s red line for withholding military support to Israel. White House spokesman John Kirby stated that the scale of the attack did not constitute a major ground operation, which would have prompted a reassessment of U.S. policy.

“We have not seen them go in with large units and large numbers of troops in columns and formations in some sort of coordinated maneuver against multiple targets on the ground,” Kirby explained.

Previously, President Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. would not support military actions targeting densely populated areas without proper evacuation plans.

However, the ambiguous nature of this red line has allowed continued U.S. support for Israel’s military operations despite increasing civilian casualties.

“I have made it clear to Bibi and the war cabinet they’re not going to get our support if, in fact, they’re going into these population centers,” Biden said in an earlier interview with CNN.