The State Department has informally informed Congress of plans to sell $8 billion worth of arms to Israel, CNN International reported quoting a US official and another source familiar with the situation.
Notifications were sent to the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees on Friday, marking the first day of the new Congress and weeks before the Biden administration’s departure. This follows claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year that the administration withheld weapons, an accusation dismissed by a U.S. envoy as “unproductive” and “entirely untrue.”
Human rights groups have accused Israel of violating international laws, including the use of US weapons in Gaza during its conflict with Hamas, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. In May, the State Department acknowledged that U.S. arms may have been used in ways that contradict international humanitarian law but stopped short of declaring any violations.
The proposed deal, initially reported by Axios, includes AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM missiles for combating airborne threats like drones, along with artillery shells, Hellfire missiles, Small Diameter Bombs, JDAM kits, warheads, and bomb fuses. The sale aims to bolster Israel’s security by replenishing critical munitions and enhancing air defense capabilities.
The Biden administration emphasised Israel’s right to self-defense within the bounds of international and humanitarian law, asserting its commitment to providing necessary defense capabilities. While some equipment can be sourced from existing U.S. stockpiles, most deliveries will take several years.
This informal notification process allows relevant Congressional committees to review and provide input or raise concerns about the proposed sale before it moves forward.
