Washington – The Trump administration has formally notified Congress of plans to sell nearly $6 billion in weapons to Israel, signaling intensified support for the U.S. ally even as international criticism grows over Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
According to U.S. officials familiar with the proposal, the package includes a $3.8 billion deal for 30 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters—almost doubling Israel’s current fleet—and a $1.9 billion agreement for 3,200 infantry assault vehicles. Delivery of the weapons is expected to take two to three years or longer. The plan was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and confirmed by multiple sources on condition of anonymity because the details have not been made public.
The proposal comes as U.S.-backed negotiations aimed at brokering an end to the nearly two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas remain stalled. The sales also follow Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, an operation that drew widespread condemnation across the Middle East.
Despite growing pressure from allies and mounting calls from Senate Democrats to block the transfer of offensive weapons, the administration has pressed forward. The State Department declined comment on the details of the pending sales.
Israel, meanwhile, has launched a fresh offensive on Gaza City, deepening accusations from international watchdog groups. A leading professional association of genocide scholars recently declared that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide, intensifying the global backlash.
Several U.S. allies have also moved to distance themselves. The U.K. barred Israeli officials from attending its largest arms fair, citing humanitarian concerns. Turkey closed its airspace to Israeli government flights and arms cargo, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned Israel’s military operations as disproportionate.
Trump, who lifted a Biden-era pause on certain munitions shipments to Israel upon taking office in January, has consistently expanded military aid. Earlier this year, the administration approved roughly $12 billion in weapons transfers, including a $500 million sale of bomb guidance kits in June.
The White House confirmed Friday that Trump plans to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington next week, with discussions expected to include a separate deal involving Boeing aircraft and F-16 fighter jets.
Congress is expected to begin its review of the $6 billion proposal shortly, part of the standard oversight process for foreign military sales. The agreement would fall under a 10-year U.S.-Israel defense pact now approaching its conclusion.
Associated Press story
