The US last week paused a bomb shipment for Israel over concerns it was going ahead with a major ground operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a senior US administration official said.
The shipment consisted of 1,800 2,000lb (907kg) bombs and 1,700 500lb bombs, the official told the BBC. Israel has not “fully addressed” US concerns over humanitarian needs of civilians in Rafah, the official said. An Israeli military official appeared to play down the US move. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari told a news conference that the US had provided “unprecedented” security assistance since the beginning of the war, adding that disputes between the allies were resolved “behind closed doors in a matter-of-fact way”.
Overnight, there were further Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip, hours after Israeli forces backed by tanks took control of the Palestinians side of the key Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt.
The Israeli bombardment was particularly intense around Rafah. Local medics said seven members of one family were killed in one strike.
Rafah has been a key entry point for aid and the only exit for people able to flee since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas last October.
Credit: bbc.com
