US May Limit Ammo to Israel, Suspends Arms Supply Amid Conflict

The United States has reportedly suspended the supply of ammunition to Israel, a move that has not occurred since the conflict with Hamas began in October 2023. This decision follows a tense exchange between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, primarily concerning Israel's military operations in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip. The U.S. has historically been a significant military aid provider to Israel, as highlighted by the recent approval of emergency aid by the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes substantial military assistance.

Israeli officials have disputed claims of a halt in American aid, asserting that support is ongoing. Nevertheless, the Accountant General’s Division of the Treasury's annual budget report for Israel has exposed the country's considerable reliance on U.S. support, with a notable percentage of the Ministry of Defense's unplanned transactions involving American suppliers.

The interruption in the ammunition supply comes amid a breakdown in cease-fire talks after recent hostilities, including a Hamas rocket attack that resulted in the death of three Israeli Defense Force soldiers and a subsequent retaliatory strike by Israel that killed 19 Palestinians in Rafah. Prime Minister Netanyahu has confirmed plans for potential troop deployment in Rafah, a city with a substantial Palestinian population. The White House, Pentagon, State Department, and the office of the Israeli Prime Minister have not issued comments on these developments.