The Biden administration has now reportedly informed Congress of a $8 billion weapons package for Israel, which includes thousands of bombs, missiles, and artillery shells. This is one of the largest new arms transactions since the War in Gaza began in 2023.
According to U.S. officials who are acquainted with the sale, the weapons bundle, which congressional officials were informed of late on Friday afternoon, also encompasses the intended sale of thousands of precision munitions, air-to-air missiles, and bombs.
Democrats who have opposed the transfer of large bombs to Israel amid concerns over the civilian toll of the conflict in Gaza may object to certain items in the new weapons package.
One of the officials stated that the proposed transfer includes a set of guidance kits that are intended to be installed on large MK-84 2,000-pound bombs and BLU-109 bunker buster bombs. AMRAAM and Hellfire missiles, as well as 155mm artillery ammunition, are also included.
The upcoming weapons transfer, which is scheduled to occur just weeks before President Biden transitions to President-elect Donald Trump, is the largest that the United States has authorized for Israel since the $20 billion weapons package that the administration approved in August.
According to an Israeli official, Israel was also informed of the move and anticipates that the weapons will arrive in 2025.
The Biden administration has encountered difficulties with its arms sales to Israel.
In response to Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the seizure of approximately 250 hostages by militants, the administration coordinated an airlift of bombs and other munitions to Israel.
According to the Palestinian health authorities, the Israeli military offensive against Hamas has resulted in the deaths of over 45,000 Palestinians in Gaza. The authority’s figures do not specify the number of combatants.
According to Palestinian health officials and a hunger-monitoring mechanism supported by the United Nations, the war, which has been primarily fought with weapons manufactured by the United States, has resulted in the destruction of a significant portion of the coastal enclave.
Additionally, thousands of individuals have been enduring famine-like conditions in the region.
Biden has been encouraged by several prominent Democrats and members of Congress to reduce weapons sales to Israel in order to reduce civilian deaths in Gaza and to pressure Netanyahu into accepting a cease-fire that would halt the war and liberate the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
In May, Biden made the decision to suspend the delivery of one set of 2,000-pound and 500-pound explosives to Israel due to concerns that an Israeli offensive on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah could result in additional civilian casualties.
The administration subsequently lifted its restriction on the delivery of the 500-pound explosives; however, it continues to withhold the 2,000-pound munitions.
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