The Pentagon continues to provide weapons shipments almost on a daily basis to Israel, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Monday. Despite the rising number of civilian casualties, “we are not putting any limits on how Israel uses weapons,” Singh said. “That is really up to the Israeli Defense Force to use and how they are going to conduct their operations.”
Quick Read
- The Pentagon provides daily weapons shipments to Israel, as confirmed by deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.
- Singh stated there are no restrictions on how Israel uses the weapons; their use is determined by the Israeli Defense Force.
- While not directly addressing concerns about weapon usage, Singh mentioned Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s emphasis on Israel adhering to laws of armed conflict and minimizing civilian casualties.
- Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), stressed the urgency for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire during a U.N. Security Council emergency meeting.
- Lazzarini expressed concerns about the agency’s operations in Gaza, especially after break-ins at its warehouses.
- He highlighted the death of 64 of the agency’s staff in just over three weeks.
- Lazzarini emphasized that while many Gazans feel trapped in the conflict, Israel remains bound by international humanitarian law, which includes protecting civilians.
The Associated Press has the story:
Pentagon: US provides Israel with weapons shipments almost daily
Newslooks- WASHINGTON
The Pentagon continues to provide weapons shipments almost on a daily basis to Israel, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Monday.
Despite the rising number of civilian casualties, “we are not putting any limits on how Israel uses weapons,” Singh said. “That is really up to the Israeli Defense Force to use and how they are going to conduct their operations.”
Singh did not answer a question on whether there were concerns inside the Pentagon about the way the weapons were being used, but said that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has regularly emphasized the need for Israel to follow the laws of armed conflict and avoid civilian casualties as much as possible.
UNWRA HEAD WARNS THAT FURTHER BREAKDOWNS OF CIVIL ORDER ENDANGER AGENCY’S OPERATIONS IN GAZA
UNITED NATIONS — The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees is warning that “an immediate humanitarian cease-fire has become a matter of life and death for millions,” stressing that “the present and future of Palestinians and Israelis depend on it.”
Philippe Lazzarini warned during an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council Monday that a further breakdown of civil order, following the recent break-ins at the agency’s warehouses by panicked Palestinians searching for food and other aid, will make it extremely difficult for the largest U.N. agency in Gaza to continue operating.
He said in a virtual briefing that he is worried about a spillover of the conflict and urged all 193 U.N. member nations “to change the trajectory of this crisis.”
The commissioner-general of the agency known as UNRWA, also said 64 of its staff have been killed in just over three weeks — the latest only two hours prior when UNRWA’s head of security in mid-Gaza was killed with his wife and eight children.
Lazzarini said most Palestinians in Gaza “feel trapped in a war they have nothing to do with” and “they feel the world is equating all of them to Hamas.” He stressed that the Oct. 7 Hamas atrocities in Israel don’t absolve Israel from its obligations under international humanitarian law, starting with the protection of civilians.
