The State Department has informed Congress of a planned $8 billion weapons sale to Israel as the American ally continues its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The sale includes a variety of weapons such as medium-range air-to-air missiles, 155 mm projectile artillery shells, Hellfire AGM-114 missiles, and 500-pound bombs.
Some of the arms may come from current U.S. stocks, while the majority would take up to several years to deliver. This sale would add to the record of at least $17.9 billion in military aid that the U.S. has provided Israel since the conflict began in October 2023.
The Biden administration has faced criticism over the mounting deaths of Palestinian civilians, with efforts in Congress to block sales of offensive weapons to Israel. The U.S. previously paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel in May due to concerns about civilian casualties.
Israel has been conducting airstrikes in Gaza in recent days, resulting in dozens of casualties. The Israeli military maintains that it targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths due to its operations in residential areas.
The conflict has caused widespread destruction and displaced about 90% of Gaza's population, with many now sheltering in tents near the sea as winter sets in.
The informal notice to Congress is not the final step before the sale is completed. The leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee or the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will have the opportunity to review the package before final approval.
News of the weapons sale was first reported by Axios.
