Biden used military aid to Israel, even though it was the smallest part of the package, to finally get his Ukraine aid bill through the House.

The problem (one of a number of problems with that bill) is that it was always going to be ‘bait and switch’.

The only reason the Biden administration is providing or promising to provide military supplies to Israel is to be able to control its response. And as the Israeli government is making it clear that it will go into Rafah to finish off Hamas, the Biden administration appears to be trying to pressure it to stand down using that aid.

Since Hamas refuses to release the hostages, Biden continues trying to hold military aid hostage.

The Biden administration last week put a hold on a shipment of U.S.-made ammunition to Israel, two Israeli officials told Axios.

It is the first time since the Oct. 7 attack that the U.S. has stopped a weapons shipment intended for the Israeli military.

The incident raised serious concerns inside the Israeli government and sent officials scrambling to understand why the shipment was held, Israeli officials said.

The White House declined to comment.

The Pentagon, the State Department and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office didn’t immediately respond to questions.

Declining to comment isn’t a no. Also, significantly, Barak Ravid, the guy pushing the story, has emerged as Biden’s go-to-guy for leaking attacks on Israel.