The Biden administration has informed Congress of a planned $8 billion arms sale to Israel, U.S. officials said Saturday, as the nation continues its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
The proposed sale includes medium-range air-to-air missiles, 155 mm artillery shells, Hellfire AGM-114 missiles, and 500-pound bombs, among other items, U.S. officials revealed on condition of anonymity because the formal notification to Congress has not yet been submitted. While some weapons may come from existing U.S. stockpiles, the bulk of the equipment is expected to take years for delivery.
The sale adds to the $17.9 billion in military aid that the U.S. has provided Israel since the outbreak of the war on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack.
The Biden administration has faced criticism over the rising civilian death toll in Gaza. Protests have erupted on college campuses, and some Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have attempted to block the sale of offensive weapons to Israel.
In May, the U.S. paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel over concerns about civilian casualties during an assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah. However, after citing limited progress in humanitarian aid distribution, the administration in November chose not to restrict arms transfers as initially warned.
Israeli airstrikes have intensified in recent days, reportedly killing dozens in Gaza, adding to the tens of thousands of fatalities since the war began. The Israeli military has stated that it targets Hamas operatives and accuses the militant group of using civilian areas as shields.
The conflict has displaced nearly 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many of whom now face harsh winter conditions in makeshift shelters near the coast.
The informal notice to Congress initiates a review by leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before the sale can proceed.
News of the weapons package was first reported by Axios.
