Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the previous US administration of effectively imposing an arms
By Sammy,
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the previous US administration of effectively imposing an arms embargo that he says left Israel short of ammunition during the war against Hamas, contributing to the deaths of Israeli soldiers. Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu said Israel paid "very heavy prices" in terms of troop losses, arguing that while casualties are inherent to war, some occurred because Israeli forces lacked sufficient ammunition at critical moments. He did not specify how many soldiers were affected or when, and did not directly name the administration responsible, but said the alleged embargo ended when US President Donald Trump took office.
Netanyahu has made similar accusations since mid-2024, claiming that restrictions on arms deliveries harmed Israel's ability to fight. Officials from the Biden administration consistently maintained that Washington did not impose an arms embargo on Israel, saying the only shipment withheld was a batch of heavy bombs paused over concerns they could be used in densely populated areas during fighting in Rafah. Netanyahu rejected that explanation, saying troops were forced to enter booby-trapped buildings after artillery and air power had already been used, and charged that "heroes fell" because they did not have the ammunition they needed.
The prime minister said the experience reinforced his resolve to ensure Israel never again faces such shortages. He said he is pushing to build a stronger and more independent domestic arms industry and to transform Israel's relationship with the United States from one based on aid to one centered on partnership, including joint development and production of weapons. Netanyahu added that similar cooperation could eventually extend to other allies, including India and Germany.
Senior figures from the former US administration swiftly pushed back on Netanyahu's claims. Amos Hochstein, a top aide to former US president Joe Biden, told Axios that Netanyahu was not telling the truth and was being ungrateful to an administration he said strongly supported Israel during a critical period. Fellow Biden aide Brett McGurk echoed that assessment, calling the allegation "categorically false" and pointing to continued US military assistance, regional ceasefires, and coordinated actions against Iran as evidence of unwavering support for Israel's security.
The dispute also revived controversy over remarks Netanyahu made in an interview with The Economist, in which he suggested Israeli soldiers were killed because he refused to authorize carpet bombing of cities before ground forces entered Gaza. Critics noted that Netanyahu's Likud has previously attacked political rival Benny Gantz for making similar comments to foreign media while explaining the military's efforts to limit civilian casualties.
Topics: Iran, Gaza, IDF
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.