Biden Administration Plans To Send $1 Billion In Arms To Israel Amid Rafah Tensions

Key lawmakers have been informed by the Biden administration that more than $1 billion in additional arms and ammunition will be sent to Israel, as revealed by three congressional aides on Tuesday. However, the timing of the delivery of these weapons has not yet been disclosed.

This arms shipment is the first to be disclosed since the administration decided to halt another arms transfer earlier this month, which consisted of 3,500 bombs weighing up to 2,000 pounds each, as reported by Hindustan Times citing AP.

US To Send $1 Billion In Arms To Israel - Here's What We Know

The Biden administration paused this bomb transfer citing concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza, aiming to prevent Israel from using these specific munitions in its offensive operations in Rafah, a densely populated area in southern Gaza. The arms package revealed on Tuesday includes approximately $700 million for tank ammunition, $500 million for tactical vehicles, and $60 million for mortar rounds, according to the congressional aides who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an arms transfer that has not yet been made public.

The timing of when these arms will be sent has not been specified. Two congressional aides clarified that this shipment is not part of the foreign aid package that Congress passed and President Biden signed into law last month, as reported by AP.. It is unclear whether this shipment represents the latest instalment from an existing arms sale or if it involves new procurement.

Criticism of the Biden administration's military support for Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza has come from both sides of the political spectrum. Some Democrats have urged President Biden to limit the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel to pressure them into better protecting Palestinian civilians.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have seized upon the administration's pause on bomb transfers, arguing that any reduction in U.S. support weakens Israel in its fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed groups., as per AP reports. Despite the temporary suspension of bomb transfers, President Biden and administration officials have affirmed their commitment to continuing other weapons deliveries and overall military support to Israel, which is the largest recipient of U.S. military aid.

The plans for the $1 billion weapons package to Israel were initially reported by The Wall Street Journal. In response to House Republicans' intention to advance a bill mandating the delivery of offensive weapons to Israel, the White House announced on Tuesday that President Biden would veto the bill if it were to pass Congress.

The likelihood of the bill passing is minimal given the Democratic majority in the Senate. However, House Democrats exhibit some division on the issue, with approximately two dozen signing a letter to the Biden administration expressing deep concern over the pause in bomb shipments, as per media reports.

One of the signatories, Representative Ritchie Torres of New York, indicated that he would likely support the bill despite the White House's opposition. In addition to issuing a written veto threat, the White House has engaged with various lawmakers and congressional aides regarding the legislation, as confirmed by an administration official.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated this week that the administration vehemently opposes any attempts to limit the President's authority to deploy U.S. security assistance in accordance with foreign policy and national security objectives. Jean-Pierre also emphasized that the administration intends to utilize every dollar allocated in the national security supplemental package signed into law by President Biden last month.