NBC: US weighs slowing or pausing some weapon deliveries to Israel as leverage to scale back war in Gaza

According to NBC, citing 3 US officials, the Biden Administration is weighing using weapons sales as leverage to pressure Israel to reduce the intensity of its operations in the Gaza Strip.

Although no decisions have been made, the White House asked the Defense Department to review which weapons could be used as leverage on Israel, says the report, pointing at 155 mm artillery shells and JDAM kits to turn missiles into precision munitions.

NBC says defensive systems are not under consideration.

“The administration is focused on offensive military equipment in its review of what it could possibly withhold or delay,” the report says. It also notes, however, that officials “have also discussed offering the Israeli government more of the weapons it has requested” — to encourage Israel “to take some steps the administration has requested.

One of Washington’s goals is to convince Israel to open humanitarian corridors to allow more aid to reach Gazans. The US has also repeatedly urged Israel to do more to reduce civilian casualties.

“There’s a lot more that needs to be done and that they need to be more careful about,” says an administration official.