The Biden administration notified Congress on Tuesday of a $1 billion weapons package for Israel, according to official sources who spoke to AFP. This announcement comes a week after the administration threatened to withhold certain arms amid concerns about a potential assault on Rafah.
The administration informally informed Congress about the weapons package, which will require approval from lawmakers. The weapons, purchased from US manufacturers, are part of a larger $95 billion defense support package recently approved by Congress for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
Last week, President Biden cautioned that bombs and artillery shells could be withheld from Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proceeded with an assault on Rafah. Additionally, the administration halted a shipment, including 2,000-pound bombs, for the first time, citing concerns about civilian casualties.
Although left-leaning members of the Democratic Party have expressed outrage over civilian casualties in Gaza, Congress could still approve the weapons sale to Israel. Despite opposition from some Democrats, the package passed with support from the majority of Republicans.
The new arms package, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, may include $700 million in tank ammunition and $500 million in tactical vehicles. The Biden administration, while critical of Israel’s actions, remains committed to supporting its ally’s security and highlights US assistance in countering threats such as Iranian drones.
“We are continuing to send military assistance, and we will ensure that Israel receives the full amount provided in the supplemental,” Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security advisor, told reporters on Monday.
“We have paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs because we do not believe they should be dropped in densely populated cities. We are talking to the Israeli government about this,” he said.
The Biden administration has invoked emergency needs twice since the October 7 Hamas attack to bypass the standard 30-day review by Congress for military transfers. Additionally, critics highlight that the administration has regularly sent undisclosed weapons shipments, which fall below the threshold for congressional notification.
