Pentagon confirms paused bomb shipment, says it does not have a plan to move forward

The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that the Biden administration has still paused a shipment of weapons to Israel over its invasion of Rafah, but said it does not have a plan to resume the shipment.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testified in front of the Senate on Wednesday that the administration has halted the shipment of two types of bombs, according to Politico.  The move has since prompted backlash from conservative lawmakers and calls for the House to impeach President Joe Biden because of a precedent set in the Trump administration. 

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the future of the shipment remains in limbo, but that the department is discussing options with Israel. Austin also claimed that the administration on Wednesday was still devoted to helping Israel in its war with Hamas, but just wanted to focus on civilian safety.

"We’ve not made a final determination on how to proceed with this shipment," Ryder told reporters on Thursday night, according to Fox News.

Israel took control of an area near the civilian city of Rafah on Tuesday night, which is considered the last stronghold for Hamas. Ryder however, claimed it does not appear that the invasion was a full-scale operation. 

“We’re continuing to discuss with Israeli officials their plans as it relates to Rafah and addressing the Hamas threat,” Ryder said, per The Washington Times. “We’ve been very clear, both publicly and privately, that as Israel contemplates its operation in Rafah, we would expect it to be done in a way that takes civilian safety into account.”

Some Republicans in both chambers consider the decision to halt the bomb shipment without congressional approval an impeachable offense, because of the 2019 impeachment of former President Donald Trump. The former president was impeached by a Democrat-led House over his decision to withhold aid to Ukraine. He was charged with "abuse of power," but was acquitted by the Senate.

Articles of impeachment are currently being drawn up by Florida GOP Rep. Cory Mills, who claimed that Biden made a "quid pro quo" situation with Israel by maintaining that it would only get a weapons shipment if it did not invade Rafah. 

"The House has no choice but to impeach President ‘Quid pro Joe’ Biden," Mills said in a statement shared with Just the News. "Joe Biden is pressuring Israel, our biggest ally in the Middle East, by pausing their funding that has already been approved in the House, if they don't stop all operations with Hamas. It’s a very clear message, ‘this for that.’"

It is not clear when Mills will file the impeachment articles, but it could come as soon as next week since the House has gone home for Mother's Day weekend.