The US has expressed its deep disappointment over criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu had issued an English-language video on Tuesday. He said he told Blinken that Washington was withholding weapons and ammunition to Israel.
Netanyahu said in the video. “I said I deeply appreciated the support the US has given Israel from the beginning of the war.” He added. “I said it’s inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel. Israel, America’s closest ally, fighting for its life, fighting against Iran and our other common enemies.”
The White House response came as NSA Jake Sullivan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken planned meetings with Netanyahu’s two top aides. They will discuss the Gaza conflict.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby addressed the comments in a briefing with reporters. He said the US had directly expressed displeasure to Israel.
“The idea that we had somehow stopped helping Israel with their self-defense needs is absolutely not accurate.”
Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Ron Dermer, Israel’s minister for strategic affairs, will speak with Sullivan. A White House official larger, more formal “strategic dialogue” meeting is being rescheduled.
Blinken will meet with the Israelis at 3 p.m.
Blinken said weapons shipments with the exception of large bombs, were moving as usual. This was because Israel faced security threats beyond Gaza, He declined to comment on his private exchange with Netanyahu.
The US paused a shipment of 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs due to Israel in May. This was due to concern over the impact they could have in densely populated areas. But Israel was still due to get billions of dollars worth of U.S. weaponry.
With inputs from Reuters
