Pressured by pro-Palestinian protests on American college campuses, Joe Biden’s administration last week halted shipments of certain bombs to Israel due to “concerns” about an offensive against Rafah.
“There are 1,800 bombs weighing 907 kilograms and 1,700 bombs weighing 226 kilograms,” a senior government official said on condition of anonymity.
The United States, the UN and the European Union urged Israel not to enter Rafah – where 1.4 million Palestinians are crowded, mainly displaced people, according to the UN – for fear of a bloodbath and a worsening of the humanitarian crisis in the Strip . Qatar called on the international community on Wednesday to act to prevent a “genocide”.
Following the evacuation of tens of thousands of Palestinians from areas east of Rafah on Monday and the closure of the border crossing with Egypt, Israeli forces continue shelling the city.
Bombings were also reported in Gaza City, in the north, where a hospital announced the death of seven members of a family.
“Decisive round”
The fate of Rafah and the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas is at stake in negotiations in the Egyptian capital, but both Israel and the Islamist group are adamant in their positions. A senior Hamas official told AFP on Wednesday that his movement “insists on the legitimate demands of its people” and assured that this is a “decisive round”.
