A high-ranking Israeli official claims that the US government is “slow-walking” military aid to Jerusalem amid increasing international pressure to end its support for Israel.
According to the senior official, who spoke with ABC News on condition of anonymity, US military aid shipments were coming “very fast” at the onset of the Israel-Hamas war.
However, things began to change recently as Washington has allegedly slowed the pace of military aid after asking Jerusalem to scale down the Gaza offensive.
The official said he was unsure why US support has slowed, but he admitted that his country is aware of Washington’s frustrations with the conflict.
As of March 18, more than 31,000 people in Palestine have been killed amid Israel’s relentless air and ground attacks, as per the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
‘Israel Might Lose This War’
The Israeli military is running low on 155-millimeter artillery shells to support its ground operations in Gaza, according to the official.
It cannot rely entirely on US support, as Washington is also supplying similar munitions to Ukraine, which also reports dwindling US military aid.
Israel also reportedly needs 120-millimeter tank shells and sensitive guidance equipment to effectively neutralize its enemies.
The official said the country might lose the war because it is running out of the weapons to win it.
‘No Change in Policy’
In response to the allegation, US officials told ABC News that aid shipments have not been deliberately delayed.
Its policy on military aid packages has also not changed despite strained ties between the two allies.
Washington provides Israel with $3.8 billion in military aid every year as part of a 10-year agreement signed by former US President Barack Obama.
“I’m not going to get into the timeline for every individual system that’s being provided,” US national security spokesman John Kirby said. “We continue to support Israel with its self-defense needs. That’s not going to change, and we have been very, very direct about that.”