An Israeli fighter jet flies over the border area with Lebanon, March 4, 2024. (Credit: Jalaa Marey/AFP)
The U.S. State Department has informed Congress that it plans to approve $8 billion in purchases of U.S.-made arms to Israel, the New York Times (NYT) reported on Friday citing the department’s office responsible for arms transfers.
If finalized, this would be the last major arms package to Israel under President Joe Biden’s administration, which ends later this month. The decision underscores Biden’s unwavering support for Israel, even as its ongoing war in Gaza has drawn international scrutiny and led to a mounting death toll.
Israel's military offensive in Gaza against Hamas has killed at least 45,658 Palestinians and wounded 108,583 since Oct. 7, 2023, according to the enclave's health ministry. Meanwhile, Biden’s administration has been pushing for a cease-fire deal and the release of Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas during the group’s Oct. 7 assault.
NYT reported that the weapons package includes artillery shells, small-diameter bombs, missiles for fighter jets and helicopters and GPS guidance systems for bombs, according to the informal notification provided to two committees of Congress. Many of the weapons "are not for immediate use but instead would go into a manufacturing pipeline, with delivery possibly taking years," the American newspaper added.
srael would use U.S. funds to purchase the arms, with annual aid typically around $3 billion. However, President Biden boosted that amount following the onset of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023.
During the informal notification period, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee will review the proposed sales, raise questions with the State Department and could potentially block transfers if concerns arise.
While top Democrats on both committees have expressed skepticism about the arms deals, Republicans have swiftly supported them.
Once the four committee leaders grant approval, the State Department will formally notify Congress, essentially ensuring the sale proceeds. To block the deal, Congress would need to pass a resolution with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.
