Israeli and American officials sifted through “every single case” of weapons shipments at a meeting in Washington, D.C., clearing up any “misunderstandings” and making “real progress,” a senior administration official said.
That does not mean, however, that the U.S. is going to begin shipping the large bombs that have been paused since May, after the president aired concerns about their use in highly populated areas, like Rafah. That pause is still under review, the official said.
In terms of other weapons and supplies, though, the official said there were misunderstandings that the delegations worked through stemming from “complexities” in the U.S.’s highly bureaucratic approval system and requests for certain items to be prioritized.
“We were able to go through everything, and I think where there were some misunderstandings, those were clarified — about where certain cases might be in the course of our process, which can be complex,” the senior administration official said.
“There was real progress in a mutual understanding of where things stand, of prioritization of certain cases over others, so that we can make sure that we are moving things in ways that meet the needs of the Israelis, and with the only exception being one shipment of MK-84s [the 2,000-pound bombs] that remains paused and under review,” the official said.
This meeting comes after a video released June 18 by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing the U.S. of slowing weapons shipments, which the U.S. has denied.
That video was not discussed in Thursday’s meeting between Israeli Defense Minister Yaov Gallant and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, the official said.
-ABC News’ Cheyenne Haslett
The United States and Israel have long been close allies, with a strong partnership in various areas including security and defense. However, recent misunderstandings over weapons shipments in the Israel-Gaza conflict have strained this relationship.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza has been ongoing for years, with both sides engaging in violent clashes and attacks. In recent months, there have been reports of weapons shipments being sent to Gaza from Iran, which has raised concerns in both Israel and the US.
The US has been a strong supporter of Israel’s right to defend itself, but has also expressed concerns about the use of weapons that could escalate the conflict further. In response to these concerns, Israel has agreed to work closely with the US to address the issue of weapons shipments in Gaza.
In a recent meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to working together to resolve the misunderstandings over weapons shipments. They also discussed ways to strengthen security cooperation and prevent further escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
One of the key areas of focus in their discussions was the need for better coordination and communication between the two countries to prevent weapons shipments from reaching Gaza. Both sides agreed to share intelligence and information to track and intercept any illegal shipments that could potentially fuel the conflict.
Additionally, the US and Israel are exploring ways to enhance security measures along the Gaza border to prevent smuggling of weapons into the region. This includes increased surveillance and monitoring of border crossings, as well as joint training exercises between Israeli and US security forces.
Overall, the updates on US and Israel cooperation in resolving misunderstandings on weapons shipments in the Israel-Gaza conflict are a positive step towards strengthening their partnership and addressing security challenges in the region. By working together, both countries can help prevent further escalation of the conflict and promote stability and peace in the Middle East.
