The Joe Biden administration has authorised the transfer of more bombs and fighter jets worth billions of dollars to Israel despite the US voicing its concerns about an anticipated military offensive in Gaza’s Rafah by Israeli forces.
The new arms packages include more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs along with 25 F-35s that were initially approved as part of a larger package by the US Congress in 2008, The Washington Post reported.
Notably, the US gives Israel, its longtime ally, $3.8 billion in annual military assistance.
The White House did not react to the weapons transfers. The Israeli embassy in Washington also did not comment on the matter.
The package came against the backdrop of Israel facing international criticism over its deadly offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year. Over 32,000 people have died in Gaza so far, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
The development also came after the US on March 25 abstained from a vote on a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with Israel lashing out at Washington and saying that it “abandoned its policy in the UN today”.
Some members of President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party have called on him to cut US military aid to Israel.
On Friday, Biden acknowledged “the pain being felt” by many Arab Americans over the war in Gaza and over US support of Israel and its military offensive that has left Arabs, Muslims and anti-war activists angry and disappointed.
