DayofPal– The Trump administration has formally requested congressional approval to transfer nearly $1 billion in bombs and military equipment to Israel, even as international efforts continue to uphold a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The proposed sale includes 4,700 1,000-pound bombs, valued at over $700 million, and armoured bulldozers manufactured by Caterpillar, worth more than $300 million. These transfers require authorization from Congress, with the State Department notifying both the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees before proceeding.
The request comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington for discussions with President Donald Trump on the ceasefire in Gaza and broader regional issues.
The US has faced mounting criticism for its continued military aid to Israel, particularly as casualties in Gaza continue to rise.
Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute indicates that the US supplied 69% of Israel’s arms between 2019 and 2023, a figure that climbed to 78% by the end of last year.
By December 2023, Washington had delivered over 10,000 tonnes of weapons worth $2.4 billion. That number grew to 50,000 tonnes by August 2024, transported via hundreds of planes and ships.
As Israel’s closest military ally, the US has provided a wide range of advanced weaponry, including missiles for the Iron Dome defense system, precision-guided bombs, Apache attack helicopters, heavy-lift CH-53 helicopters, 155mm artillery shells, bunker-busting munitions, and armored vehicles.
Since 1946, the US has provided Israel with over $310 billion in military and economic aid, adjusted for inflation, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. A $38 billion, ten-year military aid agreement signed in 2016 remains in effect, with the proposed $1 billion arms transfer drawing from the annual $3.3 billion allocation.
Beyond regular aid, emergency military assistance in 2024 added billions more, including a $14.1 billion package approved in February and a $2.5 billion arms shipment in March. By 2024, the US had authorized over 100 arms deals for Israel, replenishing its stockpiles and supporting its missile defense systems.
Several human rights groups, former State Department officials, and Democratic lawmakers have urged the Biden administration to halt arms shipments to Israel, citing violations of US and international laws.
Critics point to the Leahy Law, which prohibits military assistance to foreign forces implicated in human rights abuses. While Israel denies these allegations, calls for stricter oversight of US military aid continue to intensify.
The proposed arms transfer is expected to face scrutiny as lawmakers debate its implications for US foreign policy and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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