In remarks on Sunday, June 23, 2024, Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on accusations that his country’s top ally, the United States, was withholding weapons shipments, despite denials from the Biden administration.
The Israeli Prime Minister told his Cabinet that there had been a “dramatic drop” in U.S. weapons deliveries for Israel’s war effort in Gaza.
Without specifying which weapons, Netanyahu said that the drop in arms shipments began four months ago.
“About four months ago, there was a dramatic drop in the supply of armaments arriving from the US to Israel. We got all sorts of explanations, but … the basic situation didn’t change,” he said at the cabinet meeting.
He said that for weeks, top Israeli officials lobbied their US counterparts at “the highest levels … at all levels” for speedier weapons deliveries.
“After months of no change in this situation, I decided to give it a public expression,” he said.
Last week, Netanyahu irked Washington with a video statement accusing it of “withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel.”
Netanyahu’s earlier claims over the weapons transfer sparked an uproar among critics in Israel and was met with denial and confusion from White House officials.
The dispute underscores the strain between Israel and Washington throughout the war in Gaza.
U.S is Israel’s main military backer, but the White House has voiced frustration over the rising civilian death toll in Gaza, where Israel has been fighting Hamas militants for more than eight months.
Also on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that the row with the United States over weapons delays relating to the Gaza war would be resolved soon.
“In light of what I have heard in the last day, I hope and believe that this issue will be resolved in the near future,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert criticised the government’s war strategy and called for a ceasefire.
In comments carried by an Israeli newspaper, Olmert said that Netanyahu had turned the world against Israel due to the violence unleashed in Gaza.
“The government has lost the support of the world during these months of stagnation.
“At first, everyone supported our response, but with all the destruction in Gaza, support for us eroded.”
Ehud Olmert
Olmert added that Netanyahu has also lost the trust of the Israeli public, who are frustrated by deepening insecurity in the country’s north and the failure to bring back the captives.
“We must end the fighting with an agreement under which all the abductees will be returned and an international force will enter the Gaza Strip and prevent the return of Hamas rule,” the former Israeli Prime Minister urged.
Israel’s Defence Minister Heads To U.S
Netanyahu’s latest comments came as Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant flew to Washington for talks about the war in Gaza.
Gallant headed to Washington on Sunday to discuss the next phase of the Gaza war and escalating hostilities on the border with Lebanon, where exchanges of fire with Hezbollah have stoked fears of wider conflict.
Iran-backed Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israel since the Gaza war erupted more than eight months ago.
The group has said it will not stop until there is a ceasefire in Gaza.
“We are prepared for any action that may be required in Gaza, Lebanon, and in more areas,” Gallant said in a statement before setting off to Washington.
He disclosed that he will meet his counterpart, Lloyd Austin and U.S Secretary of state, Antony Blinken.
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