Joe Biden administration has approved over $20 billion in new weapons sales to Israel, despite ongoing concerns from human rights activists and some members of the Democratic Party over the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The decision comes as President Joe Biden continues to press for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, although the weapons in question will not reach Israel for several years.
The State Department notified Congress on Tuesday of its approval for the sale, which includes 50 F-15 fighter jets valued at $18.82 billion. These advanced aircraft, which will begin delivery in 2029, are expected to enhance Israel’s current air fleet with new radars and secure communications systems. Additionally, Israel will purchase nearly 33,000 tank cartridges, up to 50,000 explosive mortar cartridges, and new military cargo vehicles.
The State Department emphasized that the sale is critical for maintaining Israel’s self-defense capabilities and serves the United States’ national interests. “The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the department stated.
While Congress technically has the authority to block such weapons sales, doing so is a challenging process. Meanwhile, human rights organizations and some progressive Democrats have called for a halt to arms deliveries to Israel, citing the high civilian death toll in Gaza. Recent reports indicate that nearly 40,000 people have been killed in Israeli bombardments since the conflict began.
In May, the Biden administration froze a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel amid warnings against a large-scale offensive on Rafah, a southern Gaza city housing many displaced Palestinians. However, the administration has otherwise continued its arms support, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s complaints in June about the perceived slow pace of deliveries.
The ongoing conflict was triggered by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, which led to the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli official figures. In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza, resulting in at least 39,929 deaths, according to the territory’s health ministry, though the breakdown between civilian and militant casualties has not been provided.
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