Washington Approves $7.4 Billion Arms Deal for Israel

On Friday, the United States announced the approval of a sale of bombs, missiles, and related equipment worth over $7.4 billion to Israel, which has used U.S.-made weapons with massive destructive capabilities in the war in Gaza.

In a statement from the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Department of State approved the deal, which includes the sale of bombs, guidance kits, and missiles worth $6.75 billion, as well as Hellfire missiles valued at $660 million.

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The agency stated that the sale of bombs “enhances Israel’s ability to address current and future threats, strengthens its defenses, and serves as a deterrent against regional threats.” It added that the missile sale “will enhance Israel’s ability to respond to current and future threats by improving the Israeli Air Force’s ability to defend Israel’s borders, vital infrastructure, and residential areas.”

Israel launched a devastating attack on Gaza in October 2023 in response to an unprecedented assault by Hamas on its territory on October 7th of that year. The war destroyed much of the sector, forcing the majority of its inhabitants to flee. However, the ceasefire in effect since last month has halted the conflict and enabled the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for prisoners detained in Israel.

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The administration of former Democratic President Joe Biden had suspended the delivery of 1,800 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds each to Israel last year, which were larger than those included in this recent sale. However, reports indicated that Donald Trump canceled this decision upon taking office.

Last summer, the Biden administration approved a massive $20 billion arms sale to Israel, which included more than 50 F-15 fighter jets.

Although the State Department has approved the sale of bombs and missiles, the deal requires Congressional approval, which is unlikely to block the supply of arms to the United States’ closest ally in the Middle East.

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Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks, a prominent member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the move without consulting Congress. He stated in a press release, “This step is another rejection by Donald Trump of Congress’s right to oversight, and furthermore, Secretary of State Marco Rubio failed to provide a valid justification for bypassing the congressional review process.”

A congressional aide said the move “shocked them, but didn’t surprise them” given the White House’s failure to respect the role of legislative institutions.

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This decision comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington and his meeting with Trump, who described the current U.S. president as a “loyal friend of Washington.” Trump also stirred controversy after revealing during a press conference with Netanyahu at the White House last Tuesday his intention to seize Gaza and relocate Palestinians to other countries, including Egypt and Jordan.