The Biden administration has informed Congress of a proposed $8 billion arms sale to Israel, a move that strengthens US support for its ally amid the ongoing war in Gaza. According to Axios, the proposed deal, which will require approval from both the House of Representatives and Senate committees, includes munitions for fighter jets and attack helicopters, artillery shells, small-diameter bombs, and warheads.
Although the US State Department hasn’t commented on the deal, the sale represents the continued support Washington gives Israel in its campaign against militant groups funded by Iran, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen. Critics of the administration’s position have demanded an arms embargo on Israel, though US policy has held firm, and earlier arms deals, including an August fighter jet package worth $20 billion, have been approved.
International criticism against Israel’s moves in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions, and has created a dire humanitarian situation, but the US has still stood with its ally. The Gaza health ministry puts the death toll at more than 45,000, while many are suspected to be buried under debris. Diplomatic moves to stop the war that began following the fatal attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, have not succeeded so far in an agreement to halt the conflict.
The US has also vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions that call for a Gaza ceasefire. As President Biden is set to leave in January, his successor, Donald Trump, is expected to be just as tough on Gaza and its people. The two leaders have, after all, been ardent supporters of the Israeli government ever since the whole conflict began.
