The White House has requested approval from Congress to send over $1 billion in weapons to Israel, as revealed by officials on Wednesday.
The proposed package is said to include tank rounds, mortars, and armored tactical vehicles, and comes at a critical time amid escalating tensions in the Gaza conflict.
The plan, which has been confirmed by a congressional aide to CBS, is contingent on approval from lawmakers. This announcement follows President Joe Biden's recent statement that he would halt weapons deliveries to Israel in the event of a major invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah.
Despite President Biden's decision to delay the shipment of 2,000lb (900kg) bombs to Israel due to concerns about civilian casualties, reports indicate that Israeli tanks have advanced further into residential areas of south-eastern Rafah, raising worries about the humanitarian impact of the conflict.
The proposed arms package, which is the first since the Biden administration paused arms transfers to Israel, includes $700 million in tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles, and $60 million in mortar rounds.
A recent US State Department report raised concerns that some American-made weapons provided to Israel may have been used in violation of international law. While the report criticized certain Israeli operations in Gaza, it did not definitively state that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) campaign had breached international law, citing credible assurances from Israel regarding the legal use of US weapons.
In light of the escalating violence, Congress recently passed a bill allocating $95 billion in aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. However, the issue of weapons transfers to Israel has become politically sensitive for President Biden, particularly ahead of the 2024 White House election.
In response to mounting scrutiny, Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at preventing further pauses in weapons shipments to Israel. The proposed measure, scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives, mandates the state and defense departments to ensure the "prompt delivery" of military equipment.
Despite this, the White House has vowed to veto the bill, indicating potential congressional gridlock on the issue. The conflict between Israel and Hamas began following the latter's cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7th. Since then, the violence has resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, with over 35,170 casualties reported in Gaza, including 82 fatalities in the past 24 hours, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
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