Austin: Washington Suspended Arms Shipment to Israel Due to Rafah Attack

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on Wednesday that "President Joe Biden's decision to suspend a shipment of explosives to Israel was made in the context of plans for Tel Aviv to launch an attack in Rafah, which Washington opposes without new guarantees for civilian protection." During a session in the Senate, he said: "We have been very clear... from the beginning that Israel should not conduct a significant attack in Rafah without considering the civilians in the vicinity of that battle and ensuring their protection. Again, after our assessment of the situation, we suspended one shipment of explosives." Austin added: "We have not made a final decision on how to proceed regarding that shipment."