Biden pauses one shipment of heavy bombs to Israel first weapons hold since October 7

The Biden administration pauses a shipment of approximately 1,800 2,000-pound MK84 bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel, the first such hold since the October 7 attacks, over concern that the weapons could cause mass civilian casualties in a planned Israeli ground offensive into Rafah, where over 1 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. Biden says publicly that the U.S. will not provide weapons used against civilians. Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly criticizes the decision, calling it "inconceivable." The pause covers only one delivery. Other arms packages continue, and the administration resumes deliveries within weeks.