Biden plans to sell $8 billion in weapons to Israel

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The Joe Biden administration approved $8 billion in new weapons for Israel in a last-minute show of support after more than a year of fighting in Gaza.

The State Department disclosed the sale to Congress on Friday in what was called an informal announcement, two people familiar with the matter said.

Such an announcement would come before the official announcement of the deal, which would require approval by the Senate and House Foreign Relations Committees before a deal can be reached.

Axios first reported on the proposed sale, which includes $6.75 billion in precision-guided missiles and small bombs, $300 million in 155mm cannons, $600 million in Hellfire missiles and $300 million in Amram air-to-air missiles, one of the people said. Acquaintance with the subject.

The second person said some weapons will come directly from US stocks, but most will take a year or more to be delivered.

He was killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza. More than 45,000 According to Palestinian health officials, people in the region. Israel launched the attack in response to an October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel that killed 1,200 people, Israeli officials said.

Biden administration officials have pledged to continue efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas until the end of his term on January 20, but talks have stalled for months.

The administration has repeatedly raised concerns with Israel about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but has not followed through on the threat of an arms embargo.

In November, the State Department dropped threats to withhold military aid after aid to Gaza dropped to record lows, saying it was pleased Israel was taking steps to improve the humanitarian situation.

US officials’ aid provision has improved since then, but remains inadequate. Aid groups have repeatedly warned that Israel’s attacks have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region and called for more aid.

Biden has said he supports Israel’s right to self-defense and promised to provide weapons to Iran and its proxies in an effort to defend itself.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly accused the United States of delaying the delivery of arms and ammunition, a charge the Biden administration has denied.

In the year In November, Netanyahu said he had agreed in part to a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon to help Israeli soldiers replenish their stocks.

That month, the Biden administration informally informed Congress of its plan to give to Israel 680 million dollars In actual weapons.

That announcement came after some Democrats in Congress failed to block a $20 billion arms sale to Israel last summer.

Congress approved $26 billion in additional wartime aid to Israel in April. This is in addition to the $3.8 billion in security aid that the United States provides to Israel each year.