Washington Approves $3 Billion Arms Deal for Israel

The deal aims to enhance Israel's ability to address current and future threats amid concerns over a potential resurgence of war in Gaza.

1st March 2025

3 minutes read

Washington Approves $3 Billion Arms Deal for Israel

The United States, Israel’s main diplomatic and military ally, announced on Friday that it had approved the sale of ammunition, bulldozers, and other equipment to its strategic partner, valued at $3 billion. This decision comes more than 15 months after the devastating war in Gaza and amid reports of failed negotiations regarding the second phase of the ceasefire, raising fears of renewed fighting.

In a statement, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had authorized the sale of bombs, warheads, and guidance equipment worth more than $2.5 billion, along with bulldozers and other equipment for approximately $300 million. The agency emphasized that this deal “will improve Israel’s ability to address current and future threats, strengthen its territorial defense, and serve as a deterrent.”

Israel has previously used American weapons in its war against the Palestinian Hamas movement in Gaza. In early February, the Trump administration approved a $7.4 billion arms sale to Israel, including bombs, ammunition, and missiles. The Israeli Ministry of Defense confirmed that the first batch of heavy American weapons was delivered just days later.

This transaction is part of the United States’ longstanding support for Israel, which has received substantial military and economic aid since its establishment in 1948. The U.S. is Israel’s largest military and diplomatic backer, providing it with billions of dollars in annual aid.

During the latest war in Gaza, the U.S. provided significant military support to Israel, supplying it with ammunition and military equipment. This assistance has drawn widespread criticism from the international community and human rights organizations, as the conflict has resulted in over 160,000 Palestinian casualties, most of them women and children, with more than 14,000 reported missing.

Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. military aid. Since its founding, it has received approximately $158.8 billion in various forms of assistance, a figure that reaches $260 billion when adjusted for inflation. This aid includes military and economic support as well as missile defense programs such as the Iron Dome system.

In 2023, the U.S. provided substantial military backing to Israel during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, deploying warships and military aircraft to the Eastern Mediterranean and supplying Israel with ammunition and military equipment. Former U.S. President Joe Biden also requested an additional $14 billion in aid from Congress to support Israel in its war against Hamas.

This latest deal is part of the U.S. commitment to maintaining Israel’s “qualitative military edge” over its neighbors and expediting aid and arms sales through various means. A ten-year bilateral military assistance memorandum of understanding, signed in 2016, commits the U.S. to providing Israel with $3.3 billion in foreign military financing annually, along with $500 million per year for joint missile defense programs from fiscal year 2019 to fiscal year 2028.

This deal comes at a sensitive time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, as the U.S. seeks to strengthen its regional alliances to address shared threats. It reaffirms the U.S. commitment to supporting Israel and enhancing its defense capabilities against both current and future threats.