Pentagon chief confirms US paused bomb shipment to Israel over Rafah concerns

The pausing of the aid shipment is the most striking manifestation of the growing daylight between Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and the administration of Joe Biden

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. File Picture: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

The Biden administration paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that the country was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the US, defence secretary Lloyd Austin said.

The shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000lb (900kg) bombs and 1,700 500lb (225kg) bombs, according to the official.