Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. has paused the supply of “high-payload” munitions to Israel over concerns about a potential military offensive on the Gazan city of Rafah.

The delivery was supposed to contain 3,500 bombs, split roughly evenly between 2,000-pound (907-kilogram) and 500-pound explosives, according to a senior administration official. Austin, speaking separately, said no final decision has been made on the shipment.

Israel needs to account for the protection of civilians in Rafah, where the U.S. wants “no major conflict take place,” Austin told a Senate Appropriations panel on Wednesday. Washington is worried about the damage the large bombs could inflict on dense urban areas like Rafah, where about 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering from Israel’s war with Hamas.

Austin said a 2000-pound bomb could do a lot of “collateral damage.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the weapons delay, and it’s unclear if it will have much impact on the military’s operations in Gaza. Still, it speaks to growing tensions between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden, who’s voiced opposition to an attack on Rafah and reaffirmed that message in a call between the leaders on Monday.

Privately, Israeli officials have expressed deep frustration and warned their U.S. counterparts the delay could jeopardize cease-fire and hostage negotiations at a crucial moment, according to a person briefed on the discussions. The Israelis told U.S. officials that pressure should be put on Hamas, not on Israel, the person added, declining to be named in order to detail the sensitive discussions.

The U.S. has stepped up its criticism of Israel in recent months, saying it’s not doing enough to protect civilians and allow aid into the besieged Palestinian territory, parts of which the United Nations says are on the verge of famine. “There have been far too many casualties in this battle space,” Austin said.

At the same time, Biden has said his support for Israel is ironclad, and he’s defended its right to pursue a strategy of destroying Hamas, an Islamist group backed by Iran.

Austin was questioned about the weapons shipment by members of the congressional panel. “Does this not send the wrong message to our ally Israel and embolden Iran and Iranian-backed groups?” asked Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican. “We should not signal to our enemies that our support is conditional.”

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine called the pause “a decision that most members of Congress would take issue with.”

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