U.S. Approves $3 Billion Arms Sale to Israel

The United States has authorized the sale of more than $3 billion in military equipment to Israel, including munitions, bulldozers, and associated tools, with a significant portion of the arms intended for use in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This approval, announced on Friday, comes after Israel's aggressive military operations against Hamas in Gaza, which involved extensive use of American-made weapons.

The approval, signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, includes $2.04 billion in bomb bodies and warheads, $675.7 million in additional bomb bodies and guidance kits, and $295 million for bulldozers and related equipment, according to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

Rubio determined that "an emergency exists" requiring the immediate sale to Israel, in line with U.S. national security interests, allowing for the bypassing of Congress's usual review process. The DSCA emphasized that such sales are vital to maintaining Israel’s defense capabilities, which are seen as essential to both Israeli security and U.S. strategic interests in the region.

This latest transaction follows the approval of over $7.4 billion in military aid earlier this month, including bombs, missiles, and other munitions. The decision comes amid ongoing concerns about the humanitarian impact of the conflict, which has devastated much of Gaza since Israel’s military offensive began in October 2023. The war resulted in widespread destruction and displacement of Gaza’s population, though a ceasefire has been in place since last month, which also facilitated the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

While concerns over civilian casualties led to a temporary halt of certain arms shipments to Israel under President Joe Biden’s administration, his successor Donald Trump reversed that decision. The newly approved sales include large bombs, including 2,000-pound munitions, which had previously been blocked under Biden’s policy.