According to three congressional staffers on Tuesday, the Biden administration has informed important members that it will provide Israel with more than $1 billion worth of extra weapons and ammunition. However, the delivery schedule for the weaponry was not immediately known. This is the first known arms sale to Israel since the government halted the shipping of 3,500 bombs weighing up to 2,000 pounds apiece earlier this month.
Civilian Casualties In Gaza
The Biden administration stated that it had halted the bomb supply in order to prevent Israel from utilising those specific weapons in its offensive in the heavily populated southern Gaza city of Rafah, citing concern for civilian fatalities in Gaza.
According to the congressional aides, the package revealed on Tuesday included roughly $700 million for tank ammo, $500 million for tactical vehicles, and $60 million for mortar rounds. They discussed an armaments shipment that has not yet been made public while speaking under the condition of anonymity.
When the arms would be sent was not immediately apparent. According to two congressional officials, the shipment is not included in the much-delayed foreign aid package that President Joe Biden signed last month after Congress passed it. It was unclear whether the package was something new or the most recent installment from an ongoing armaments trade.
While running for reelection against former President Donald Trump, the Biden administration has drawn criticism from both political parties for its military support of Israel’s now seven-month-old battle against Hamas in Gaza.
The White House announced on Tuesday that Biden would veto the bill if it were to pass Congress in reaction to House Republicans’ plan to proceed with a bill mandating the delivery of offensive weapons for Israel.
Security Assistance
In the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, the bill has very little chance. However, there is some disagreement among House Democrats about the matter; about twenty-one of them have signed a letter to the Biden administration expressing their “deep concern about the message” that the bomb shipment’s halting conveyed.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated this week, “We strongly, strongly oppose attempts to constrain the President’s ability to deploy U.S. security assistance consistent with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives.
” She also stated that the administration intends to use “every last cent” appropriated by Congress in the national security supplemental package that Biden signed into law last month.