U.S. denies claims of withheld weapons

White House rejects Netanyahu's criticism, says heavy bombs the only shipment being delayed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday claimed the United States is withholding weapons and implied this was slowing Israel's offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where fighting has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation for Palestinians.

U.S. President Joe Biden has delayed delivering certain heavy bombs since May over concerns about Israel's killing of civilians in Gaza. Yet the administration has gone to lengths to avoid any suggestion that Israel has crossed a red line in the deepening Rafah invasion, which would trigger a more sweeping ban on arms transfers.