The Cradle / August 26, 2024
The White House has sent 50,000 tons of weapons to Israel despite claims President Biden and VP Harris are working for a ceasefire in Gaza
The US military has completed its 500th flight airlifting over 50,000 tons of weapons and equipment to the Israeli army for its over ten-month onslaught against Palestinians in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced on 26 August.
In addition to the weapons and equipment airlifted to Israel since 7 October, Washington has sent Tel Aviv 107 shipments of military supplies by sea.
A Defense Ministry statement said the shipments include “armored vehicles, munitions, ammunition, personal protection gear, and medical equipment, which are crucial for sustaining the IDF’s operational capabilities during the ongoing war.”
The weapons shipments – that have enabled Israel to kill over 40,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and render Gaza uninhabitable – come as White House officials claim that US presidential candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris has been “working tirelessly” for a ceasefire agreement.
Muhammad Shehada of EuroMed Human Rights reported on 25 August that, according to multiple senior officials in Doha who were directly involved in the Israel–Gaza ceasefire talks, “There are currently no negotiations, only a sham theatre play.”
Shehada further stated that Israel and the US are only “negotiating between themselves” and that the US is issuing positive statements about the negotiations against the wishes of the mediators to deflect criticism from Vice President Harris during the Democratic National Convention for her role in supporting the genocide.
Shehada adds that another purpose is to “blame Hamas for refusing an impossible unworkable non-ceasefire deal to make it harder for Iran and Hezbollah to retaliate since they promised to hold fire as long as negotiations were ongoing.”
Following Israel’s assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut in late July, Iran and Hezbollah have promised to retaliate.
Hezbollah carried out part of its retaliation on Sunday when it launched over 300 missiles and drones, striking intelligence and military targets deep inside Israel near Tel Aviv.
The Hamas movement said in a statement on 25 August that its delegation left Cairo that day after meeting with mediators and being briefed on the negotiations by Egyptian and Qatari officials.
“The Hamas delegation stressed the movement’s position that any agreement must include a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the freedom of return of residents to their areas, relief and reconstruction, and a serious exchange deal,” he added.
