As an imminent Israeli offensive against the Gazan city of Rafah begins to unfold, the small Judeo-Middle Eastern country is increasingly reliant upon US arms to achieve its long term goal of wiping out the terrorist organization, Hamas.
However, legislators are now saying that an increasingly important shipment of weaponry has been halted by the Biden Administration without congressional approval.
In a statement sent out Wednesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville bashed the decision and said that it will only extend the conflict.
“Israel is one of our closest and most important allies,” he said. “We should be consistent in supporting our friend as they fight a war for their very survival. What we are seeing from the Biden Administration is the worst kind of betrayal. Saying you support the Jewish people then withholding critical arms and munitions only emboldens the Hamas Terrorists and prolongs the fighting.”
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“President Biden needs to stop appeasing the America-hating fringe of the Democrat party for votes in November and release the weapons to Israel.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, released a joint statement with U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul regarding the matter.
“We are appalled that the administration paused crucial arms shipments to Israel. Withholding arms to Israel weakens Israel’s deterrence against Iran and its proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah,” said Rogers (R-Saks) and McCaul.
“Moreover, this disastrous policy decision was undertaken in secret and deliberately hidden from Congress and the American people. At a time when Israel continues to negotiate in good faith to secure the release of hostages, including American citizens, the administration’s shortsighted, strategic error calls into question its ‘unshakeable commitment’ as an ally.”
“The administration must allow these arms shipments to move forward to uphold the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and ensure that Israel can defend itself and defeat Hamas.”
U.S. officials with the Biden Administration have continued to maintain that there has been no change in policy toward Israel.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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