US Approves $8 Billion Arms Deal with Israel

The Joe Biden’s administration has approved an $8 billion arms deal with Israel, which includes artillery shells, Hellfire missiles, small-diameter bombs, and 500-pound warheads.
This decision comes at a time when Israel’s assault on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has led to an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.

The US State Department announced the approval yesterday, stating that the sale aims to support Israel’s long-term security by replenishing vital ammunition stocks and enhancing its air defence capabilities.
A State Department official explained that the department has notified Congress of a proposed sale of $8 billion worth of arms to support Israel’s long-term security by replenishing vital munitions stockpiles and air defense capabilities.

The arms package is said to include ammunition for fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery shells. Israeli news site Walla reported that the US also informed Congress that the deal covers munitions for combat aircraft and helicopters, as well as artillery shells, based on sources familiar with the details.

This deal could mark the last arms package to be approved by the Biden’s administration, coming at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters have accused the White House of imposing a “quiet weapons ban” on Israel.

US pressure had grown within some democratic circles to condition US arms sales on Israel’s handling of the Gaza war and its impact on the humanitarian situation in the region.
However, President Biden refrained from linking arms supplies to such conditions, underscoring a shift away from potential pressure on Israel in favour of long-term military support.

Axios reported that this deal represents a long-term commitment, with some of the munitions being drawn from existing US stockpiles, while most will be delivered within a year or more.
This deal is part of the United States’ ongoing support for Israel, which has included the provision of thousands of tonnes of weapons and munitions through air and sea bridges since October 2023.

Despite mounting evidence of Israeli military actions in Gaza that many international observers and human rights groups have characterized as genocide, the US has continued its unwavering military assistance to Israel, refusing to recognise these actions as constituting war crimes or genocide.