In the same week Israel marked 600 days since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, the United States sent the 800th planeload of weapons and munitions to the Israel Defense Forces. The planes received on Tuesday, May 27, were loaded with guns, bombs and ammunition, and were in addition to the 140 ships laden with military aid also sent to Israel.
Israel’s Ministry of Defense said that the more than 90,000 tons of equipment and supplies delivered from the United States since the start of the war include armored vehicles, munitions, ammunition, personal protection gear and medical equipment. Israel’s Ministry of Defense said in a Facebook post that the deliveries represent a significant component for the IDF to ensure continued operations “both for achieving the war objectives and for improving readiness and stockpiles.”
Since the Oct.7 attacks in southern Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country is fighting a multi-front war against Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” which includes Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu said the war will only end once all the hostages still held by Hamas are released and the terrorist group is beaten back so that it can never hold military or political power ever again.
International support for Israel is shifting
In the early days and months of the fighting in Gaza, most of the international community was behind Israel and what they said was its right to defend itself, but much of that support is now shifting. Germany, one of Israel’s strongest supporters behind the United States, is now reassessing its arms shipments to Israel as a result of the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where 90% of the population was forced to flee their homes. The United Kingdom Red Cross says around 470,000 people are facing starvation.
Spain, Ireland and Belgium are leading a push in the European Union to set up sanctions against Israel over the crisis in Gaza. The United Kingdom and Canada are also considering sanctions.
Trump warns Israel not to bomb Iran
In what could be seen as the biggest public “split” between President Donald Trump and Netanyahu, the U.S. leader said during the week of May 25 that he “warned” the Israeli prime minister not to strike Iran or its nuclear sites while Tehran and Washington are engaged in talks aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program. Trump then quickly walked that statement back, telling reporters he told the Israeli leader “This would be inappropriate to do right now because we’re very close to a solution. That could change at any moment.”
Israel earlier rejected a report in The New York Times that Netanyahu was threatening to disrupt talks on a nuclear deal between the United States and Iran by striking Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facilities. The newspaper cited anonymous officials within the Israeli government who said there are growing concerns that Trump is so motivated to get a deal done with Iran that he may allow Tehran to keep its uranium enrichment programs in operation. That has long been a red line for Israel.
