Biden admin slammed as WH spokesman John Kirby won’t confirm whether US weapons were used in Rafah strike

WASHINGTON, DC: The Joe Biden administration on Wednesday, May 29, refused to confirm whether US-manufactured bombs were used by Israel in a deadly airstrike over the weekend that killed dozens of displaced Palestinians at a camp in Rafah.

This comes amid mounting scrutiny and calls for accountability as reports and expert analyses suggested the involvement of American-made munitions.

Expert analyses and evidence

CNN initially reported the presence of remains of the American-produced GBU-39 small-diameter bomb (SDB) at the scene, a conclusion supported by four explosive weapons experts who reviewed video evidence shared on social media.

The New York Times conducted a similar investigation, reaching the same conclusion regarding the bomb type. These bombs are designed and sold in the United States and are known for their precision and relatively smaller payloads.

When pressed for comments, White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters, “We’re not going to speak to individual payload loadouts on individual Israeli aircraft. The [Israeli military] should speak to their conduct of this particular operation, and that would include … discussion of what was used.”

Kirby highlighted that Israel had publicly stated its use of precision-guided munitions with a payload of about 37 pounds, which “would certainly indicate a desire to be more deliberate and more precise in their targeting.”

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh also deferred specifics about the munitions used in the Rafah strike to the Israeli authorities, stating, “I do not know what type of munition was used in that airstrike. I’d have to refer you to the Israelis to speak to that.”

The Rafah strike

The Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of Rafah resulted in the deaths of at least 45 people and injured more than 240 others, with the majority of casualties being women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The attack ignited a fire, further exacerbating the death toll and destruction.

The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted two Hamas leaders and asserted that the bombs used were not expected to harm civilians.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari stated at a press conference that the operation utilized "two munitions with small warheads" containing 17 kilograms of explosive material, which he described as “the smallest munition that our jets can use.”

Palestinian journalist Alam Sadeq documented munition fragments found at the camp, with identifiable codes traced back to the Colorado-based aerospace manufacturer Woodward, known for supplying parts for GBU-39 bombs. This discovery intensified suspicions and criticism of US' role in the conflict.

Despite the controversy, US officials have advocated for Israel to employ more precise bombs with smaller payloads to reduce civilian casualties. This aligns with the stance expressed by an Israeli military spokesperson who noted that the Israeli military prefers using accurate weapons provided by allies to mitigate civilian harm.

The United States remains Israel's largest arms supplier, a relationship solidified by a recent foreign aid package that included $26 billion for the Israel-Hamas conflict, with $15 billion designated for lethal assistance to the Israeli military.

This support persists even as international demands for President Biden to exert pressure on Israel to prevent civilian casualties grow louder.

Biden administration criticized on social media

The Biden administration faced significant backlash on social media for its refusal to confirm the use of US bombs in the Rafah strike.

"They refuse to tell the truth every single day of this administration!" one social media user posted on X.

"Most bombs used by Israel are labeled made in the USA," another wrote.

"We gave them the bombs... what did we expect, they wouldn't use them? hahaha," someone else added.

"Of course they were US, someone keeps supplying weapons!! Never let a tragedy get in the way of corporate and shareholder profits," another commented.

According to The Hill, an investigation by the Israeli military is underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion and subsequent fire. Rear Adm Hagari mentioned the possibility of a secondary blast contributing to the extensive damage.

Kirby confirmed that US officials are in continuous contact with Israeli counterparts to obtain more information about the incident.

“We do not have any more granularity today than we did yesterday about what caused the explosion and fire that killed those innocent Palestinians in the tent compound,” he said.

“We have been in touch with our Israeli counterparts again, overnight and today, and we’re trying to get as much information as we can,” Kirby added.

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