The U.S. State Department has moved a $1 billion arms aid package to Israel through the congressional review process, two U.S. officials announced Tuesday.
The latest weapons package includes tank ammunition, mortars and armored tactical vehicles, one of the officials told Reuters.
President Joe Biden last week delayed the shipment of a 2,000-pound (907-kilogram) bomb and 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel over concerns they could be used in a major invasion of the southern Gaza town of Rafah. He said he did.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Monday that the United States would continue military assistance provided in the $26 billion supplemental funding bill passed last month, but the White House said it would not be possible “to “I don’t think it should be done,” he said, which is why he suspended bombing. In densely populated cities. ”
The chairs and ranking members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee will review major foreign arms deals.
Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to invade Rafah without security measures for civilians, seven months after the start of the war that devastated the Gaza Strip.
Biden’s support for Israel in its war against Hamas has emerged as a political liability for the president, especially among younger Democrats as he seeks reelection this year.
