Since 10 May, serious clashes have broken out between Israeli and Palestinian forces in the Gaza Strip. However, U.S. media reported on May 17 that the U.S. government had approved the sale of $735 million worth of precision-guided weapons to Israel earlier this month. In this regard, the President of Turkey and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran strongly condemned it.
The Washington Post quoted sources as saying that the U.S. government on May 5 formally informed Congress of the arms sales plan, the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee spokesman also confirmed to the newspaper that Congress did receive the 5th U.S. Boeing will provide weapons to Israel notice.
After the news broke, both the Turkish president and Iran’s foreign minister strongly condemned the U.S. actions. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that “Biden approved an important document on the supply of weapons to Israel, while they shouted support for disarmament,” Russian satellite news agency reported. Dear Biden, you are writing the history of the Gaza Strip with blood-stained hands. We will continue to defend Palestine. ”
In addition, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif on the 18th tweeted to condemn the U.S. move, “When U.S.-made ammunition fell on innocent Palestinians, the U.S. provided Israel with $735 million in ‘precision’ missiles to kill more children more accurately.” ”
Xinhua had previously reported that the United States had been “biased” in favor of Israel at the beginning of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but under pressure, the official U.S. position began to show a subtle loosening. On the 17th, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said he supported a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It is the first time the U.S. president has publicly called on both sides to end the violence.
At least 200 people, including 59 children, have been killed and more than 1,300 Palestinians injured in the Gaza Strip since the Israeli-Palestinian conflict broke out on October 10.
