CITIZENS NEWS

Actions speak louder than words: Biden sends fighter jets and thousands of bombs to Israel despite calling for ceasefire in Gaza

By richardbrown // 2024-04-02

In recent days, the United States has given the green light for the transfer of significant military assets to Israel. This move, disclosed by sources who spoke with media outlets on Friday, March 29, includes thousands of different kinds of bombs and $2.5 billion worth of fighter jets. The newly authorized arms packages comprise more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs. This assistance is part of the annual $3.8 billion in military aid that the U.S. provides to Israel, which it considers its most important ally in the Middle East. These transfers occur amidst mounting international criticism of Israel's ongoing military actions, particularly its airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza. Some members of President Joe Biden's Democratic Party have urged him to reconsider U.S. military aid to Israel. While the U.S. has expedited the delivery of air defenses and munitions to Israel, criticism persists within certain circles, including among Democrats and Arab Americans. They argue that the unwavering support from the Biden administration fosters a sense of impunity for Israel. Acknowledging the concerns expressed by these groups, Biden addressed the issue by remarking that his administration is committed to backing Israel's military operations. His remarks came amidst protests during his visit to New York, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside a fundraising event he attended with former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. During the event, which was also interrupted by protesters, Biden reiterated his endorsement of a "two-state solution" to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. This is despite a growing public spat between him and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is opposed to a two-state solution. Nevertheless, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to Israel.

Biden is sending a conflicting message

According to Marc Owen Jones, associate professor of Middle East studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, the Biden administration is sending a conflicting message. Furthermore, experts argue that these mixed signals are what gave Israel the room to announce its intention to launch a ground invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, bordering Egypt, where as many as 1.5 million Palestinians were forcibly displaced by relentless Israeli assaults. (Related: Despite "bloodbath" warning, Israel inches closer to annihilating Rafah: Population 1.3 MILLION.) On Saturday, March 30, Palestine's Foreign Affairs Ministry criticized the U.S., stating that demanding Netanyahu to stop killing civilians while simultaneously providing weapons represents a significant moral contradiction. The ministry expressed disappointment at the ongoing failure of both the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the United Nations Security Council to compel Israel to adhere to their directives. Many nations and human rights organizations have demanded Israel to comply with the ICJ ruling and facilitate the unimpeded delivery of aid to Gaza, where famine looms. In neighboring Jordan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi urged the international community to halt all weapons shipments to Israel, citing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza being exacerbated by Western arms and ammunition. Opposition against Biden is also coming from within the government, with senators led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) calling on Biden to suspend military aid to Israel until it ensures humanitarian access to Gaza. Sanders condemned the move to send more bombs and warplanes to Israel as "obscene," emphasizing the inconsistency of pleading with Netanyahu to halt civilian bombings one day and then supplying thousands of 2,000-pound bombs the next. Watch this clip of Biden declaring that his government will not support an Israeli operation in Rafah. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Humanitarian catastrophe looms as Israel wages mass assault on Rafah; tens of thousands of casualties expected. Netanyahu goes rogue, says IDF will invade Rafah “safe zone” despite presence of one million refugees sheltering there. While Americans were distracted by the Super Bowl, Israel conducted a MASS BOMBING of Rafah in southern Gaza. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk AlJazeera.com Brighteon.com

World War III military national security Israel genocide foreign relations Palestine civilian casualties ceasefire WWIII Benjamin Netanyahu foreign aid military aid Gaza Rafah Israel-Palestine war