In a recent development, the United States has agreed to resume shipping 500-pound bombs to Israel, but withholds supplies of powerful 2,000-pound bombs over concerns about their potential use in densely populated areas of Gaza. This decision comes after the US paused one shipment of 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs in May due to concerns about their impact during Israel's ground invasion of Rafah, where millions of Palestinian civilians had sought shelter.

An anonymous US official clarified that the concern primarily lies with the end-use of the 2,000-pound bombs, especially in Israel's Rafah campaign. The destructive power of these bombs is significant, with a radius of 35 meters upon detonation, as estimated by the Project on Defense Alternatives.

The consignment of 500-pound bombs was held back since it was part of the same shipment as the larger bombs. However, the US official made it clear that their concern solely focused on the 2,000-pound bombs, allowing the 500-pound bombs to proceed as part of the usual process.

While the US has notified Israel about releasing the 500-pound bombs, it continues to hold back on supplying the larger bombs, as confirmed by an informed source. This decision is likely to draw criticism against the Biden administration's ongoing support for Israel's actions in the war on Gaza, particularly during the NATO summit in Washington DC.

In June, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Washington of withholding weapons, prompting a denial from the Biden administration, which expressed disappointment over Netanyahu's remarks. However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant recently stated during a visit to Washington that progress had been made on the issue of US munitions supply, with obstacles being addressed.

Despite the pause placed on the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs, Israel has been receiving a continuous supply of US weaponry. According to Reuters, between October and the end of June, at least 14,000 MK-84 2,000-pound bombs, 6,500 500-pound bombs, 3,000 Hellfire precision-guided air-to-ground missiles, 1,000 bunker-buster bombs, 2,600 air-dropped small-diameter bombs, and other munitions have been transferred.

International scrutiny of Israel's military operation in Gaza has intensified, given the staggering Palestinian death toll, which has surpassed 38,000, and the resulting devastation and humanitarian crisis in the coastal enclave. The situation has left the population on the brink of famine and at risk of disease outbreaks, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.

As tensions continue to rise, concerns over the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas remain at the forefront. Calls for accountability and de-escalation persist, as the world closely watches the developments in the region.