White House Seeks Approval for $1bn Weapons Package to Israel
The White House has informed Congress of its plans to send over $1 billion in new weapons to Israel, despite its opposition to a full-scale invasion by the Israeli military on the southern Gaza city of Rafah. This decision comes after the US paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week due to concerns about civilian casualties in densely populated areas.
The proposed weapons package includes $700 million in tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles, and $60 million in mortar rounds, according to the Associated Press news agency. Israeli tanks have already advanced deeper into residential areas in the south-east of the Gazan city.
While Congress recently passed a bill providing $95 billion in aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, the report on the new weapons package did not definitively state that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) campaign had breached international law. The White House emphasized that it had received credible and reliable assurances from Israel regarding the legal use of US weapons.
President Biden’s administration had previously paused arms transfers to Israel, including a shipment of 2,000lb bombs, over concerns about their potential use in ground operations. This decision has become a political liability for Biden ahead of the 2024 White House election, with activists in Maryland urging voters to protest against what they see as favoritism towards Israel in the Gaza conflict.
Republican lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation to prevent further pauses in weapons shipments to Israel, with the House of Representatives set to vote on a measure requiring the prompt delivery of military equipment. The White House has vowed to veto the bill if it passes the Senate.
The ongoing military campaign in Gaza was launched by Israel in response to Hamas’ cross-border attack on southern Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and 252 hostages. The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 35,170 people in Gaza, including 82 in the past 24 hours, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
