The Biden administration’s recent decision to lift a pause on the transfer of 500-pound bombs to Israel has ignited a firestorm of criticism from U.S. peace advocates. This move, which involves sending 1,700 500-pound bombs, has been condemned for its potential to exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and potentially escalate conflicts in the region.
Sara Haghdoosti, executive director of Win Without War, expressed strong disapproval of the administration’s decision. “We utterly condemn the release of 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel’s military,” Haghdoosti stated. “These bombs will almost certainly be used to kill more innocents in Gaza, where indiscriminate bombing continues and where a starvation crisis only worsens.” She further warned that if not used in Gaza, these bombs could be deployed in Lebanon, with civilians again bearing the brunt of a potential conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli government.
The shipment was initially paused in May, coinciding with Israel’s preparations for a deadly assault on Rafah. Despite this pause, Israeli military actions in Gaza have resulted in over 38,000 deaths since the Hamas-led October 7 attack. This backdrop has heightened the concerns of peace advocates who argue that the resumed bomb transfer undermines U.S. policy goals of securing a ceasefire and protecting civilians.
The decision to lift the pause came after significant pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and pro-Israel lobbyists in the United States, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Netanyahu, who faces a potential arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), had previously criticized the U.S. for withholding weapons and ammunition from Israel.
An unnamed administration official, speaking to The Washington Post, indicated that the U.S. was more concerned about the 2,000-pound bombs included in the original shipment, which will remain on hold. However, this assurance has done little to quell the outrage from advocacy groups.
Haghdoosti articulated the perplexity and frustration felt by many, stating that the decision contradicts the White House’s stated aims of securing a ceasefire and preventing a large-scale war in the region. “Releasing this transfer signals to the Israeli government that, if ceasefire talks again stall, the war in Gaza can continue and that a massive conflict with Hezbollah can begin, with no real U.S. pushback,” she said.
Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) echoed these sentiments, with senior adviser Josh Paul highlighting the moral and legal ramifications of the decision. Paul resigned from the U.S. State Department last year over the administration’s continued arming of Israel. He criticized the lifting of the suspension on the delivery of 500-pound bombs, calling it “an act of perversity and lawlessness.”
Raed Jarrar, DAWN’s advocacy director, called on the ICC to investigate U.S. officials for their role in providing lethal weapons to Israel, which he claims are used unlawfully against Palestinian civilians. “The Biden administration is fully culpable for the slaughter of civilians in Gaza,” Jarrar asserted, urging accountability for what he termed “shocking war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been severe, with reports from doctors describing horrific injuries among children caused by fragmentation bombs. Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a trauma surgeon, recounted performing numerous amputations on children with “splinter injuries” that caused catastrophic internal damage despite minimal external wounds.
Doctors working at European Hospital and al-Aqsa Hospital have operated on children whose bones and organs were severely injured by shrapnel made of three-millimeter-wide metal cubes. Dr. Mark Perlmutter, an orthopedic surgeon, described X-rays showing demolished bones with barely noticeable skin wounds.
The international community has repeatedly condemned the civilian casualties in Gaza. Despite this, both the U.S. and Israeli governments maintain that their military actions target Hamas. The Biden administration’s decision to lift the bomb transfer pause has intensified the debate over U.S. involvement and its implications for international law and human rights.
Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, noted that restraining Israel rather than enabling its operations could have prevented many deaths and injuries. “Restraining Israel in October rather than enabling its operations in Gaza,” said Finucane, “could have avoided a lot of dead and mangled children.”
The decision to send 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel has profound implications for the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the broader geopolitical landscape. As peace advocates continue to voice their outrage, the Biden administration faces mounting pressure to reconsider its stance. Raed Jarrar summarized the gravity of the situation: “The Biden administration is fully culpable for the slaughter of civilians in Gaza, and should be held accountable for its role in aiding and abetting Israel’s shocking war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
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