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| President Joe Biden | Photo: EPA |
The US State Department has informed Congress of plans to sell $8 billion worth of weapons to Israel, a US official has confirmed to the statement.
The shipment of weapons will require approval from House and Senate committees. The shipment will include various types of weapons, including missiles and ammunition.
The plan was announced two weeks before President Joe Biden left the White House. Washington has rejected calls to withhold military aid to Israel over the large number of civilian deaths in Gaza.
Last August, the United States approved a proposal to sell $20 billion in fighter jets and other military equipment to Israel.
Officials say the latest weapons planned for delivery include air-to-air missiles, Hellfire missiles, artillery shells, and bombs.
A source involved in the sales told on Saturday: "The president has made it clear that Israeli citizens have the right to defend themselves and resist aggression by Iran and its proxies, following international law and international human rights law."
"We will continue to provide the capabilities necessary for Israel's defense."
Joe Biden often calls US support for Israel 'integral'.
The United States is Israel's largest arms supplier and is helping Israel develop the most advanced military equipment.
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| More than 45,000 people have died in Israel's offensive in Gaza. This photo is from June | Photo: Reuters |
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 69 percent of Israel's arms imports between 2019 and 2023 were imported from the United States.
Earlier, in May of this year, the United States suspended a shipment of bombs weighing 2,000 pounds and 500 pounds. The country announced the decision at the time out of concern about Israel's ground operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. This drew sharp criticism from Republicans in Washington, with Benjamin Netanyahu comparing it to an "arms embargo." Biden then partially lifted the suspension.
The shipment planned this time is one of many recent steps taken by the Biden administration.
However, this is likely to be the last arms sale to Israel before President Biden leaves the White House. Donald Trump will be sworn in as president on January 20.
He has previously emphasized ending conflicts abroad. He even called for reducing US involvement in conflicts during his election campaign.
Trump describes himself as a staunch supporter of Israel, but he has called on Israel to quickly end its military operation in Gaza.
The Israeli military launched a ground operation in Gaza after Hamas' unprecedented attacks on Israeli territory.
In addition to killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, the attack took place on October 7, 2023. The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza said that 45,580 people had died in the Israeli offensive.