US to Send $1 Billion in Military Aid to Israel; Borrell Warns Against Attacks on Rafah

Three informed sources say the Biden administration has informed US Congress representatives that over $1 billion in military aid will be sent to Israel. According to the Associated Press, three informed sources in Congress announced this news on Tuesday, May 15, and did not wish to be named. It is still unclear when the aid will be delivered to Israel. The announcement of this aid package comes after the US government suspended the delivery of another arms package to Israel, which included 3,500 bombs, earlier this month. The Biden administration, expressing concern over civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip, stated that the halt in sending these bombs is to prevent the use of this ammunition, particularly in Israel's attack on the densely populated city of Rafah in the southern part of the strip. The announced arms package includes $700 million in tank munitions, $500 million in armored vehicles, and $60 million in mortars. Antony Blinken defended the halt in sending heavy American bombs to Israel. The Biden administration has faced severe criticism from both political parties in the US regarding military support for Israel in the ongoing seven-month war in the Gaza Strip. Some Democratic supporters of the US President have called for limiting the shipment of offensive weapons to Israel to pressure this Washington ally to take civilian protection in Gaza more seriously. Protesters in educational and university centers in the US have also held large demonstrations in recent months, calling for a review of the Biden administration's policy in support of Israel. On the other hand, Republican members of the US Congress criticize the government, claiming that the halt in sending bombs to Israel weakens the country in its fight against the extremist group Hamas and Iran-backed groups. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. A group of Republicans intends to advance a proposal in the US House of Representatives this week that would require the Biden administration to provide these offensive weapons to Israel. Meanwhile, the European Union warned Israel on Wednesday to end its military operations in Rafah, or else relations between the two sides would be harmed. Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, stated, 'If Israel continues its military operations in Rafah, it will undoubtedly create a serious obstacle to EU-Israel relations.' The war between Israel and Hamas, following the group's attack on southern Israel on October 7, has resulted in over 34,000 Palestinian deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands. Approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack, and over 250 were taken hostage, half of whom have been released so far. In another development in the conflict between Israel and Iran's allies over the Gaza war, Lebanon's official news agency reported that two people were killed during an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon on Tuesday. Hezbollah announced that a field commander of the group was among the dead. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost daily since Hamas's attack on Israel. The Lebanese news agency reported that an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle on the main road in Tyre, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. A source close to Hezbollah told France Press that one of the group's field commanders was among the dead but did not disclose the commander's identity. The group announced on Wednesday, May 17, that one of its fighters named Hussein Maki 'was martyred on the way to Jerusalem,' a term Hezbollah uses to refer to its casualties in Israeli attacks. France Press, citing several Lebanese news sources, reported that Hussein Maki was one of Hezbollah's field commanders and was killed in a vehicle in southern Lebanon on Tuesday night. During the seven months of controlled clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, at least 413 people have been killed in southern Lebanon, mostly affiliated with this group, but 79 civilians are also among the dead. Israel claims that 14 soldiers and 10 civilians in the country have also been killed in Hezbollah attacks. Tens of thousands of residents on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border have left their homes to avoid the fighting.