East Jerusalem, May 13 (RHC)-- U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew has downplayed Washington's recent decision to hold back the delivery of high-payload munitions, noting that the Biden administration decided to keep arming Israel after conducting an assessment into Israeli actions in Gaza.

“We are providing an enormous amount of aid.  We have been since before October 7th.  It’s increased since October 7th.  And even this week, as everyone is focusing on the decision to just delay – to hold – one set of ammunitions, everything else keeps flowing,” he told Israeli media.

“What the secretary concluded was there would be no interruption in U.S. aid for Israel,” he said, referring to the U.S. review.  “That’s of huge consequence.  You look at that in the context of one shipment of heavy bombs being delayed.  You have to look at it in the broader context.”

The assessment in question found that Israeli forces likely used US-supplied weapons in a manner “inconsistent” with international law, but stopped short of identifying violations that would put an end to the ongoing military aid.