Biden administration to send $1 billion worth of arms to Israel

The White House has informed Congress of its intention to send over $1 billion in weapons to Israel, including tank rounds, mortars, and armored tactical vehicles, according to officials. This move comes after President Joe Biden previously stated he would halt weapons shipments to Israel if a major invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah occurred.

Israeli tanks have reportedly advanced further into residential areas of south-eastern Rafah, according to Palestinians. President Biden had delayed the shipment of 2,000lb bombs to Israel due to concerns about their potential use in a ground operation.

The proposed weapons package, which still requires approval from lawmakers, includes $700 million in tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles, and $60 million in mortar rounds. This marks the first arms transfer to Israel since the Biden administration paused such shipments last week.

While the report criticizes some Israeli operations in Gaza, it does not definitively state that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) campaign has violated international law. The US has received assurances from Israel regarding the legal use of American weapons, deeming them “credible and reliable.”

The news of this arms package comes amidst political tensions, with weapons transfers to Israel becoming a contentious issue for President Biden ahead of the 2024 White House election. Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to prevent further pauses in weapons shipments to Israel, but the White House has vowed to veto such a bill if it passes the Senate.