US plans $8 billion arms sale to Israel, US official says By Reuters

By Mike Stone and Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s administration has notified Congress of a proposal to sell $8 billion in arms to Israel, a U.S. official said on Friday, as Washington continues to support its ally, whose war in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of people.

The deal must be approved by House and Senate committees and includes ammunition for fighter jets and attack helicopters, as well as artillery shells, Axios previously reported.The package also includes small-diameter bombs and warheads, Axios reported.

The State Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Protesters have been calling for an arms embargo against Israel for months, but US policy has remained largely unchanged.In August, the US approved the sale of $20 billion worth of fighter jets and other military equipment to Israel.

The Biden administration says it is helping its ally fend off Iran-backed militant groups such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

Facing international criticism, Washington has stood by Israel in its assault on Gaza, which has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million population, sparked a hunger crisis and led to accusations of genocide that Israel denies.

Gaza’s health ministry puts the death toll at more than 45,000, with many feared buried under the rubble.

Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to end Israel’s 15-month-old war in Gaza, which began after an October 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants that killed 1,200 people and took nearly 250 hostages. according to Israeli data.

Washington, Israel’s biggest ally and arms supplier, has also previously vetoed UN Security Council resolutions on Gaza ceasefires.

Democrat Biden is due to leave office on January 20, when he will be replaced by Republican President-elect Donald Trump.Both are strong supporters of Israel.