Israeli soldiers preparing ammunition near the Gaza border. EPA
Israeli soldiers preparing ammunition near the Gaza border. EPA
Israeli soldiers preparing ammunition near the Gaza border. EPA
Israeli soldiers preparing ammunition near the Gaza border. EPA

Senators demand Biden answer questions about reported hold on Israel ammunition transfer


Ellie Sennett
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Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

Two Republican senators have sent a letter to President Joe Biden demanding answers about reports that his administration has blocked an ammunition transfer to Israel, emphasising the need to support Washington's long-time ally and raising concerns about transparency.

“We are deeply concerned that your administration failed to notify Congress about this decision,” Joni Ernst, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, and Ted Budd said in the letter, obtained by The National.

“Just one month ago, Congress passed a national security supplemental to provide military assistance to Israel.

“If these reports are true, then you have once again broken your promise to an American ally.”

The White House has declined to answer questions about reports that surfaced at the weekend saying it had withheld the aid.

A small but growing number of Mr Biden's Democrats have raised concerns about whether US aid is being used to violate international law amid the Israel-Gaza war, which has killed about 34,800 Palestinians since October 7, according to local health authorities.

Last week, Washington accused five Israeli military units of committing “gross violations of human rights” in the occupied West Bank before October 7, though it has avoided addressing concerns about units' conduct in Gaza.

Later on Tuesday, Representative Mike McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs, said: “The many reports that the administration is delaying sending Israel weapon components to improve the accuracy of aeroplane-dropped bombs is very concerning.

“I'm looking into these allegations and expect the administration to be transparent with our committee.”

In their letter, Ms Ernst and Mr Budd demanded Mr Biden tell Congress what ammunition his administration has withheld from Israel, whether it had been approved by Congress and why politicians were not notified.

“We must give Israel the arms it needs to fight the Hamas terrorists that continue to hold Americans hostage,” the senators said. “We call on your administration to immediately restart the weapons shipments to Israel today.”

Ms Ernst has been at the forefront of lobbying for support for Israel in Congress and has worked closely with hostage families since the October 7 Hamas attacks, in which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken into Gaza.

Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, meanwhile, on Tuesday said “it looks to be true that President Biden is clearly trying to placate the pro-Hamas element of his party – there's no other explanation for that”.

Mr Johnson added that the Biden administration assured him personally “as recently as Friday” that there would be “no delay” in delivering assistance to Israel – a battle that was hard-fought in Congress amid chaotic Republican infighting linked to domestic politics.

“This is not the will of Congress. This is an underhanded attempt to withhold aid without facing accountability. It's undermining what Congress intended,” Mr Johnson said.

The pushback also comes as Israel moves forward with a military operation in Rafah, which both the Biden administration and more centrist members of his Democratic Party have warned against.

Chris Coons, a Democratic senator and ally of Mr Biden, endorsed Washington placing conditions on aid to Israel “if they continue with large-scale military operations in Rafah without making any provisions for civilians”.

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Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

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Normcore explained

Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.

The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape

UAE v United States, T20 International Series

Both matches at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free.

1st match: Friday, 2pm

2nd match: Saturday, 2pm

UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Amjad Gul, CP Rizwan, Mohammed Boota, Abdul Shakoor, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat

USA squad: Saurabh Netravalkar (captain), Jaskaran Malhotra, Elmore Hutchinson, Aaron Jones, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Jannisar Khan, Xavier Marshall, Monank Patel, Timil Patel, Roy Silva, Jessy Singh, Steven Taylor, Hayden Walsh

Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
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Stamp duty timeline

December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%

April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.

July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.

March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.

April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.

UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

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Polarised public

31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all

Source: YouGov

The Outsider

Stephen King, Penguin

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

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ICC T20 Rankings

1. India - 270 ranking points

 

2. England - 265 points

 

3. Pakistan - 261 points

 

4. South Africa - 253 points

 

5. Australia - 251 points 

 

6. New Zealand - 250 points

 

7. West Indies - 240 points

 

8. Bangladesh - 233 points

 

9. Sri Lanka - 230 points

 

10. Afghanistan - 226 points

 
Updated: May 08, 2024, 8:27 AM