Allies resolve disagreements ‘behind closed doors’, Israel says

The Israeli military appears to be playing down the arms shipment hold-up by the US, saying the allies resolve any disagreements “behind closed doors”.

Speaking at a conference hosted by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, chief military spokesperson rear admiral Daniel Hagari described coordination between Israel and the US as reaching “a scope without precedent, I think, in history”.

We reported earlier that the Biden administration paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government would imminently strike the southern region.

Analysis: What does US decision to pause bomb shipment show?

The US decision to pause a bomb shipment to Israel sends a “message of frustration and annoyance from the White House”, sways a Sky News Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall.

He reports that the Israeli government says it is “not too concerned” by the US government’s decision, but the fact is that Israel relies “heavily” on US military support.

“Although that is not stopping, this move is clearly designed to send a message,” Bunkall says.

“It’s a message of frustration and annoyance from the White House because they feel they are not being listened to.

“They have major concerns about a full-scale invasion of Rafah – that is not happening yet, but the Israelis keep saying it will happen at some point in the future.”

Bunkall says the Americans are “opposed to that” and now “they have raised it up a notch to show their displeasure”.

“I think the Americans are not just sending a message but they are very conscious as well that international lawyers are looking very closely,” he says.

“If their weapons are being used in circumstances that might breach international law, then clearly the Americans do not want to be involved in that.”