WASHINGTON: The White House said on Sunday there was no change in its Israel policy after NBC News reported the US was discussing using weapon sales to Israel as leverage to convince its government to scale back its military assault in Gaza.
Citing sources, NBC News reported that the Pentagon has been reviewing what weaponry Israel has requested that could be used as leverage. The report said the US is considering slowing or pausing the deliveries in hopes that Israelis will take actions such as opening humanitarian corridors. Among the weaponry US discussed using as leverage, it said, were 155 mm artillery rounds and joint direct attack munitions, which are guidance kits that convert dumb bombs into precision-guided munitions.