An Israeli soldier looks on from a Merkava tank while operating in a location given as Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in this handout picture released on Dec. 7, 2023. (Credit: Israeli army/Handout via Reuters)
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration
has asked Congress to approve the sale of 45,000 shells for
Israel's Merkava tanks for use in its offensive against Hamas in
Gaza, according to a US official and a former US official.
The request is being made even as concerns grow about the use of US weapons in a war that has killed thousands of civilians in the Palestinian enclave since Israel responded to an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas militants.
The potential sale, worth more than $500 million, is not part of President Joe Biden's $110.5 billion supplemental request that includes funding for Ukraine and Israel. It is under informal review by the Senate Foreign Relations and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committees, which allows members the privilege to stall the sale, or have informal discussions with the administration about concerns.
But the US State Department is pushing the congressional committees to quickly approve the transaction, said a US official and Josh Paul, a former State Department spokesperson, amid objections from rights advocates over the use of US-made weapons in the conflict.
"This went to committees earlier this week and they are supposed to have 20 days to review Israel cases. State [Department] is pushing them to clear now," Paul told Reuters.
A State Department spokesperson said as a matter of policy, "we do not confirm or comment on proposed defense transfers or sales until they have been formally notified to Congress."
has asked Congress to approve the sale of 45,000 shells for
Israel's Merkava tanks for use in its offensive against Hamas in
Gaza, according to a US official and a former US official.
The request is being made even as concerns grow about the
use of US weapons in a war that has killed thousands of
civilians in the...