Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said again that the United States has been withholding shipments of weapons and ammunition to his country.
Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting on Sunday that “four months ago, there was a dramatic decrease in the munitions coming to Israel from the US.” He added that he decided to make this public as the situation has remained unchanged.
Netanyahu also said US military aid is necessary to destroy Hamas.
Netanyahu aired a similar statement on Tuesday about the pace of US arms shipments to Israel. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby expressed “deep disappointment” over the remark.
The Associated Press reports that the rift between Netanyahu and Washington gives him “a chance to show his base that he isn’t beholden to the US and that he is putting Israel’s interests first.”
But analysts say his repeated expression of discontent could dampen relations with the US, an ally of Israel.
Against this background, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is scheduled to visit the US to talk with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian media outlet reports that five people were killed in Gaza City on Sunday in an Israeli bombing that targeted the main eastern gate of the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA.
Health officials in the Gaza Strip say the death toll from Israeli attacks since October 7 in the enclave has climbed to 37,598.