Israel-Gaza - live: US pauses bomb shipment to Israel as Palestinians trapped in Rafah with nowhere to turn

The US paused a shipment of weapons to Israel last week in an apparent show of opposition to Israeli’s decision to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing the war have sought refuge.

A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, claimed that as Israeli leaders seemed to approach a decision on the assault, the Joe Biden administration “began to carefully review proposed transfers of particular weapons to Israel that might be used in Rafah”, beginning in April.

“As a result of that review, we have paused one shipment of weapons last week,” the official said.

The US President and his administration, backed by the UK, have consistently called on Israel to refrain from an offensive in Rafah, the last remaining area of the Strip untouched by an Israeli ground assault.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain trapped in Rafah as Israel’s 401st Brigade takes control of the area.

With most of the Gaza Strip damaged or destroyed, those residing in Rafah, many of whom moved there to avoid war elsewhere, say they have nowhere else to go.

The US paused a shipment of thousands of bombs to Israel last week, US officials have revealed, over concerns about on assault on the Gaza border city of Rafah.

It was the first time in the seven months of Israel’s war on Hamas in the enclave that the US has suspended weapons shipments. The two countries, since Israel’s founding in 1948, have been close military partners.

The US sends roughly $3.3 billion in military and financial aid to Israel every year

Gaza has entered ‘darkest days of seven-month nightmare’ as aid is ‘choked off,’ the UN warns as Palestinians call for US to intervene as ceasefire talks continue, writes Bel Trew,