Despite allegations of war crimes in Gaza, Biden sends more 500-pound bombs to Israel

The Biden administration has ended a two-month halt on the supply of 500-pound bombs to Israel, even though Israeli forces frequently use U.S.-made weapons to commit alleged war crimes and genocide in Gaza.

Citing an unnamed Biden administration official, The Wall Street Journalreported on Wednesday that the bombs “are currently on their way to Israel and are expected to arrive in the next few weeks.”

In May, the Biden administration suspended deliveries of 500- and 2,000-pound bombs made by aerospace giant Boeing over concerns the devastating munitions could be used in air strikes on Rafah, the southern Gaza city where more than a million Palestinians have sought refuge.

By this time, Israel had already dropped hundreds of 2,000-pound bombs on Gaza. The US military avoids using these bombs in civilian areas because they can destroy entire blocks of houses. On October 31, an attack took place on the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp, killing over 120 civilians.

“This is what US funding and weapons do.”

Last month, the United Nations Office for Human Rights said Israel’s use of 2,000-pound bombs and other US weapons likely violated international law by targeting civilians in disproportionate attacks. Israeli military commanders have also been criticized for authorizing bombings based on artificial intelligence in selecting their targets, which they know will cause high civilian casualties.

The Biden official told the diary that the moratorium on deliveries of 2,000-pound bombs remains in force.

“Our greatest concern was and remains the possible use of 2,000-pound bombs in Rafah and elsewhere in Gaza,” they said. “As our concern was not with the 500-pound bombs, these will continue as part of the normal process.”

However, the Israeli forces have also killed many civilians with smaller bombs. The New York Timesreported on Wednesday that several weapons experts, including a former U.S. Army bomb disposal technician, had identified a fragment of a 250-pound Boeing GBU-39 bomb used in Tuesday’s attack on a refugee camp outside Al-Awda School in the southern Gaza Strip, killing or wounding scores of civilians, including many women and children.

Palestinian and international organizations say Israel’s 278-day assault and siege on Gaza has left at least 137,500 Palestinians dead, maimed or missing. Israel’s conduct in the war is the subject of a genocide trial by the International Criminal Court. International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan is also seeking to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders for crimes including extermination.

Despite overwhelming evidence of Israeli war crimes, the Biden administration remains Israel’s staunchest supporter, providing billions of dollars in military aid, approving more than 100 arms shipments and offering diplomatic protection in the form of UN Security Council vetoes and what critics call genocide denial.

Reutersreported last month that the United States had sent Israel 14,000 2,000-pound bombs, 6,500 500-pound bombs, 3,000 Hellfire missiles, 1,000 bunker-busting bombs, 2,600 air-dropped small bombs and other munitions since October.

Referring to the al-Awda massacre, Jewish Voice for Peace Action said on Wednesday: “This is what US funding and weapons do.”

“Arms embargo NOW,” the group added.