The United States has issued a warning to Israel, indicating that it may cease supplying weapons to the country unless the humanitarian conditions in Gaza show improvement. This move comes as a response to the ongoing crisis in the region.
It is not the first instance where the US has threatened to halt weapon shipments to Israel. Earlier in May, President Joe Biden had stated that certain weapon deliveries would be stopped if a significant invasion of the city of Rafah occurred. Despite this warning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proceeded with the campaign, and the flow of US weapons continued.
According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the United States stands as the primary arms supplier to Israel, accounting for 69% of Israel's arm imports in 2023. Germany followed as the second-largest supplier at 30%, with Italy providing 0.9% of the arms. Other minor contributors included the UK, France, and Spain.
The think tank highlighted that the US-imported weapons have played a significant role in Israel's military operations against groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Notably, thousands of guided bombs and missiles were delivered from the US to Israel by the end of 2023. Additionally, F-35 and F-15 fighter jets were sent to Israel from the US in January 2024.
