Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s criticism this week of U.S. arms deliveries to his country is “irritating,” the White House said Thursday.
“These comments were deeply disappointing and certainly infuriating to us, given the amount of support we have and will continue to provide,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
In a video statement, Netanyahu said that while he appreciated US support during the Gaza war, “it is inconceivable that in recent months the administration withheld weapons and ammunition from Israel.”
The United States, however, said there is only one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs that is under review due to concerns about their use in densely populated areas.
Kirby separately said that US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is expected to meet with his Israeli counterpart, Tzachi Hanegbi, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer on Thursday.
Washington is Israel’s main military backer, but the White House has expressed frustration over the rising number of civilian deaths in Gaza, where Israel has conducted more than eight months of operations against Hamas.
The war was triggered by an unprecedented attack on October 7, carried out by Palestinian militants in southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP report based on official Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza killed at least 37,431 people, also mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory.
Via Agence France-Presse
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2024/06/20/criticas-de-netanyahu-as-entregas-de-armas-dos-eua-sao-irritantes-diz-casa-branca/
