TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Sunday that U.S. arms supplies to Israel's war effort in Gaza have “dramatically decreased,” strengthening a claim denied by the Biden administration and underscoring rising tensions between the two allies.
Prime Minister Netanyahu told his cabinet the drop took place four months ago, but did not say which weapons, saying only that “certain items have arrived sporadically, but the bulk of the weapons remain behind.”
The spat highlights how tensions are rising between Israel and Washington over the war in Gaza, and in particular the Israeli military's actions in the embattled territory and the damage to civilian life there.
Thousands of people carrying flags and signs gathered in Tel Aviv, Israel, to protest against the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to demand the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. Associated Press
President Biden has delayed some larger bomb deliveries since May over those concerns, but the administration last week pushed back against accusations by Netanyahu that other shipments had been affected.
Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting that he had been forced to release the English-language video last week after pleading for weeks with U.S. authorities to speed up the deliveries but to no avail.
He said a solution appears to be near.
A crowd of people protests against the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demands the release of hostages in Tel Aviv. AP
“Based on what I've heard over the past day, I hope and believe this issue will be resolved quickly,” he said, without elaborating.
Netanyahu's video last week caused an uproar among Israeli critics and embarrassed White House officials with its denials.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the United States was “alarmed” by Netanyahu's allegations.
“We have no idea what he's talking about,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.
His remarks came hours after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited Washington for talks with senior officials.
A statement from Gallant's office said he would discuss “maintaining Israel's qualitative advantage in the region,” but did not mention arms issues.
Protesters hold Israeli flags and stand in front of fires in Tel Aviv, Israel, to protest against the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demand the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. AP
The war in Gaza, which began with an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel, is testing U.S.-Israeli relations like never before.
The United States strongly supports Israel's goals of freeing hostages held in Gaza and defeating Hamas, but is increasingly concerned about the rising Palestinian death toll and humanitarian crisis caused by the war.
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Biden has come under pressure from progressive Democrats to take a tougher stance against Israel and has stepped up warnings to Netanyahu over his military tactics in Gaza, but since threatening to impose a broader ban on arms transfers over the Rafah attack, the administration has avoided any suggestion Israel's escalating push into southern Gaza cities has crossed a red line.
Now that it's an election year, Biden has been criticized on the right for softening his support for key allies in the Middle East.
For Prime Minister Netanyahu, deepening ties with the United States also bring political risks and opportunities.
Critics see the public spat as the result of a leader ready to destroy a key alliance and tarnish Israel's image in the world for political gain.
But the rift gives the longtime leader an opportunity to show his supporters that he is not beholden to the United States and that he puts Israel's interests first.
