A former State Department official affirmed that Israel’s war on Gaza is waged with weapons made in America. He gave the statement on a 60 Minutes program that detailed how casing from American-made bombs litter the Gaza Strip.
Josh Paul, a former director in the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs who resigned in protest of the Biden administration’s Gaza policy, told 60 Minutes, “Most of the bombs come from America, most of the technology comes from America, and all of Israel’s fighter jets…comes from America.”
Most of Israel’s bombs and technology come from the U.S. All of Israel’s fighter jets come from America, says Josh Paul, a former director in the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. https://t.co/X37CBBHOJ6 pic.twitter.com/bkI5oFI75g
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) January 13, 2025
“There is a linkage between every single bomb that is dropped in Gaza and the US because every single bomb that is dropped is dropped from an American-made plane,” he added. When asked, “These Israeli airstrikes, you can say, are made in America?” Paul affirmed the statement.
Paul appeared in the segment where 60 Minutes detailed the prevalence of bomb casings in Gaza. Those casings that Palestinians use to build their homes and become toys for children often say “USA.”
Across the now-decimated Gaza Strip, America’s mark is everywhere. In footage shot by CBS News in May, the ground is littered with US-made ammunition casings – some used to prop up tents, others turned into playthings by children. pic.twitter.com/zvfeA8wEi7
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) January 13, 2025
Paul went on to explain that, after the October 7 Hamas attack, he was ordered by the highest levels of the US government, including President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to expedite approval for arms transfers to Israel.
Since October 7, 2023, the US has approved over $22 billion in military assistance for Tel Aviv. Additionally, Biden plans to approve an $8 billion shipment of bombs, missiles, and shells to Israel as one of his final acts as president.
60 Minutes spoke with a US official who explained the “belief here in the White House is cutting off weapons would lead to an even longer deadlier conflict, and that [it’s] America’s military support and diplomacy that has prevented a wider war in the Middle East.”
The White House believes that cutting off U.S. weapons to Israel would lead to a longer, deadlier conflict and that U.S. military support and diplomacy have prevented a wider war in the Middle East. https://t.co/LZLyGJPdXN pic.twitter.com/rHcRPp1YBo
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) January 13, 2025
However, Israeli officials have stated that Tel Aviv would have to end the war in Gaza within a few months if the US cut off support. Additionally, Israel’s onslaught in Gaza has already expanded to Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran.
Additionally, former and current US officials say the war has made America a target for terrorism. Hala Rharrit, another US official who resigned in opposition to Biden’s support for Israel, said the weapons shipment to Israel has “put a target on America’s back.”
Brett Holmgren, the acting director of the National Counterterrorism Center, told 60 Minutes, “that anti-American sentiment driven by the war in Gaza is at a level not seen since the Iraq War and Groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS are recruiting on the sentiment, issuing the most specific calls for attacks on America in years.”
