United States support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war
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Following the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war, the United States began to send warships and military aircraft into the Eastern Mediterranean and began sending Israel more military supplies. The Joe Biden administration stated that Israel would receive "whatever it needs" to support its offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.[1]
After an initial period of Western support for the offensive, Israel and the United States became increasingly isolated amid growing worldwide calls for a ceasefire,[2][3][4] with the US vetoing three United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for a humanitarian ceasefire.[5] International rights groups have condemned the U.S. for providing military and diplomatic support to Israel that they say risks complicity in Israeli war crimes.[6][7][8][9] By March 7, 2024, the US had sent Israel over 100 weapons shipments since the war began.[10][11]
As the war went on, however, US–Israel relations began to become strained.[12][13] The US government became more critical of Israel and its stance slowly began to change as Palestinian civilian casualties rose and opposition grew. In February, the Biden administration issued a national security directive requiring written assurances from Israel that it was using US-supplied weapons in line with international law. In March, the US began calling for an immediate and sustained ceasefire linked to the release of hostages, and Israel berated the US for allowing a ceasefire resolution to pass at the UN Security Council. The US also voiced its opposition to much of Israel's post-war plan for Gaza.[14] Nonetheless, on March 29, 2024, the Biden administration once again authorized the transfer of billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel.[15][16]