Washington, May 15 (RHC)-- The Biden administration has told Congress that it plans to send a new $1 billion package of military aid to Israel, according to media reports, despite Washington’s supposed opposition to a full-scale invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza and concerns about rising alleged civilian deaths.

The U.S. Department of State on Tuesday moved the package into the congressional review process, Reuters news agency reported, citing two unnamed U.S. officials.

The package, which is yet to be approved, includes about $700 million for tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles and $60 million in mortar rounds, congressional aides told The Associated Press news agency.

The approval request for the transfer of lethal weapons comes only one week after President Joe Biden paused a single shipment of bombs because of what he claimed were concerns over Israel’s offensive in Rafah, in the southernmost tip of Gaza, from where the United Nations says close to half a million displaced people have fled.

Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi said the new package “is being presented as the long-term U.S. commitment to supplying Israel with weaponry.”  “We are being told that it is something that has been under consideration since mid-spring.  It could take many months, up to three years to supply all of these weapons to Israel,” he said.

A recent State Department report found that Israeli forces likely used U.S.-supplied weapons in a manner “inconsistent” with international law.  However, it stopped short of identifying violations that would put an end to Washington’s ongoing military aid.