In what comes as a sigh of relief for Israel, the country’s strongest ally, the US, intends to move forward with a plan to sell more than $1 billion worth of new weapons to Jerusalem to assist the country in defending itself from the Hamas terrorist group. Interestingly, the notification of the potential transfer of arms to Israel comes just days after President Biden withheld the shipment of bombs to Israel in an ultimatum for PM Benjamin Netanyahu to avert civilian casualties in Rafah.
According to three congressional aides who are familiar with the deal, the Biden administration told Congress on Tuesday that it would send more than $1 billion in additional arms and ammunition to Israel. The package disclosed includes about $700 million for tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles, and $60 million in mortar rounds. The latest arms deal is the first to Israel that has been revealed since the President Joe Biden administration paused another arms transfer, consisting of 3,500 bombs of up to 2,000 pounds each, citing concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza.
Defending the US’ stance of blocking the imminent weapon delivery to Israel, President Biden asserted he would block the delivery of weapons such as bombs and missiles that could be fired into the densely populated area where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering. The potential arms transfer illustrates the narrow path the Biden administration is walking with Israel, trying to prevent an assault on Rafah and limit civilian casualties in Gaza but continuing to supply aid to the longtime ally.
Notably, when the US had given the ultimatum to Israel, PM Benjamin Netanyahu, while outrightly refusing to bow down to Washington’s warning, declared that if needed, Israel would “stand-alone” and “fight with fingernails”. Following this Biden administration came under severe criticism as Republican lawmakers also came together to criticize the President saying that any lessening of US support for Israel could weaken the country as it fights Hamas terrorists. Republican Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, who is set for a rematch with Joe Biden for elections in November, drew a comparison between Biden and pro-Hamas protestors demonstrating in large numbers across the US campuses, accusing him of “supporting the terrorist group, Hamas by blocking arms transfer to Jerusalem.
Nonetheless, with its latest notification of arms transfer for Israel, the Biden administration has clarified that despite the one-time suspension of a bomb shipment, the US will continue other weapons deliveries and overall military support to Israel, the largest recipient of US military aid. National Security Spokesman, John Kirby clarified on Monday that the President will continue to provide Israel with all of the capabilities it needs, but would not allow certain categories of American weapons to be used in its offensive against Gaza.
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