Following the #Biden administration's announcement that the US will withhold large bombs and artillery shells if Israel moves into a full invasion of Rafah, #Netanyahu asserted Israel's readiness to proceed independently into the crowded city.
“If we have to stand alone, we will stand alone. If we need to, we will fight with our fingernails,” declared Netanyahu in a video statement.
Israel has reached out to US Senators to condemn Biden's decision and demand the immediate reinstatement of #weapons to Israel, with some senators even calling for Biden's impeachment over this move.
#Robot dogs armed with AI-targeting rifles undergo US Marines #SpecialOps evaluation
it's the possibility of arming them with #weapons for remote engagement that may draw the most attention. But it's not unprecedented: The US Marine Corps has also tested robotic dogs armed with rocket launchers in the past. #ai
“#Civilians have been killed in #Gaza as a consequence of those bombs & other ways in which they go after population centers,” #Biden said in an interview airing Wed evening on CNN, referring to 2k-pound #bombs supplied by the #US “I made it clear that if they go into #Rafah — they haven’t gone in…yet — if they go…, I’m not supplying the #weapons that have been used historically to deal …with the cities….”
US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sent a letter to President Biden expressing “alarm” and concern about the decision “to pause” a weapons shipment to Israel.
They also asked for clarification by the end of the week.
Biden confirmed in an interview that US munitions used by Israel have killed Palestinian civilians.
The #Biden admin paused the shipment of thousands of weapons to #Israel, including controversial 2k-pound bombs, amid mounting concern about the country’s plan to expand a military operation in southern #Gaza that could dramatically increase the conflict’s death toll, U.S. ofcls said Tues.
But in recent days, it became clear to the #Biden admin that “Israeli leaders seemed to approach a decision point on such an operation,” forcing Washington to initiate its review of proposed transfers.
Despite the pause, the #IDF has enough #weapons supplied by the #US & other partners to conduct the #Rafah op if it chooses to cast aside US objections, the 1st ofcl said.
…powerful pro-Israel interest groups including the American Israel Public Affairs Cmte… is spending tens of millions …this #election cycle to unseat #Democrats it views as insufficiently pro- #Israel.
#Republicans assailed news of a delay in #weapons approvals as a “reprehensible” betrayal. “The #UnitedStates must stand with Israel. Period,” said Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC).
“Israel should not launch a major ground operation in #Rafah, where more than a million people are sheltering with nowhere else to go,” said a senior administration official, explaining the #US decision to pause the #weapons shipments. “We are especially focused on the end-use of the 2,000-pound bombs and the impact they could have in dense urban settings as we have seen in other parts of #Gaza.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/05/07/biden-delays-weapons-israel-rafah/
Russian ofcls claimed the order was in response to comments from the West about the possibility of more direct involvement in #Ukraine. #NATO called the announcement “irresponsible.”
The announcement of the exercise was Russia’s most explicit warning in its >2yr #invasion of #Ukraine that it could use tactical #NuclearWeapons there.
“…electronic parts had been manufactured in the US & Europe over the past few years. There was even a US computer chip made as recently as March 2023. This meant that North Korea had illicitly procured vital weapons components, snuck them into the country, assembled the missile, & shipped it to Russia in secret, where it had then been transported to the frontline & fired - all in a matter of months.”
"#Netanyahu will run for prime minister in the next election, and is certain he can win
The prime minister is confident his hostage deal offer will silence critics while removing troublesome far-right elements from his government..."
Interesting web comic about nuclear technology and regulation. Especially in the context of current events (AFIK only 3 countries that have had nuclear weapons and ICBMs have ever disarmed... One of them is now being invaded).
In the middle of the raging war in #Gaza, the Swedish Armed Forces orders a new weapon system for the Jas 39 Gripen for SEK 390 million.
The target seeker system is manufactured in Israel by a state-owned company and is currently being used in airstrikes against Palestine to guide bombs against civilian targets.
The International Court of Justice has refused to order #Germany to stop sending #weapons and aid to Israel, rejecting a request from #Nicaragua.
Nicaragua brought the case arguing that by providing arms and other support to Israel, Germany is failing to prevent possible genocide against Palestinians in Israel's war with #Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
So much for genocide preventation.
Once again we witness the impunity of the apartheid genocidal regime of Israel and it's global network of supporters.
Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council draft resolution to urge countries to comply with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and prevent a nuclear arms race in space. Earlier this year, U.S. officials accused Moscow of developing a new satellite-destroying nuclear weapon. The resolution was drafted by Japan and the United States, who voted in favor along with 11 other members of the council. China abstained. Read more about the failed vote from Axios.
Before the U.S. president signed a long-awaited weapons package this morning, the Biden administration secretly sent long-range missiles to Ukraine in March. Kyiv has already used the Army Tactical Missile Systems twice, striking targets deep beyond Russian enemy lines. The U.S. is sending more long-range ATACMS as part of the new $1 billion aid package. Politico has more on the weapons, and why Ukraine had been requesting them for years.
"Fears are rising for tens of thousands of civilians in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya as Israeli troops attack the city “with extreme force” and order Palestinians to immediately flee."
A group of bipartisan U.S. lawmakers are advocating for a risky proposition to allow Taiwan to build American-designed weapons systems in order to clear a $19 billion backlog of hardware promised to the country. Supply chain issues and work shortages have plagued the deliveries of tanks, missiles, jets and drones to Taiwan while the nation looks to counter China’s surging influence in the region. Some experts say allowing Taiwan to build the systems could leave them vulnerable to intelligence leaks to China. Politico has more on the proposal.