WASHINGTON, May 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's

administration has been holding up several shipment of weapons

to Israel for at least two weeks, a source familiar with the

matter said on Tuesday.

Politico, which broke the news, cited a U.S. official as

saying Washington wanted to send a political message to Israel.

Washington has said it could not support an Israeli invasion

of the Gaza border city of Rafah without an appropriate and

credible humanitarian plan.

The delayed shipments include small diameter tail kits

for unguided bombs made by Boeing ( BA ) that are designed to make them

more accurate, the source said, adding several direct commercial

sales that were in process for Israel were also being help up.

A pause in new sales would impede Israel's ability to

restock weapons it has used.

Boeing ( BA ) did not immediately respond to a request for

comment.