Genocide Joe consoles his buddy in crime, Bibi, during a mutual hugging session ( Photo: Reuters )
Washington, January 5 (RHC)-- The administration of outgoing United States President Joe Biden has notified Congress of a planned $8 billion arms sale to Israel, according to U.S. media reports, as the ally continues its devastating war on Gaza.
The Department of State sent the foreign affairs committees of the House and the Senate the notification on Friday, U.S. media reported on Saturday, citing unnamed officials.
The weapons will include 500-pound (226 kg) warheads, precision-guided munitions, artillery shells, missiles for jets and attack helicopters, and bomb fuses, along with air-to-air missiles to intercept projectiles, the reports said.
Some production and delivery of the munitions can be fulfilled through existing US stock, but the majority is expected to be delivered to Israel over a longer period, according to the US outlets.
In August, Washington approved a separate package worth $20 billion, which included jets, military vehicles, bombs and missiles.
In November, the Biden administration approved another $680 million arms package to Israel, including small-diameter bombs and precision-guidance kits.
After the U.S. president last year briefly paused the supply of a single shipment of 2,000-pound (907 kg) bombs that have caused widespread destruction across Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly blasted him.
Biden has consistently emphasised his commitment to the U.S. ally and its so-called “self-defense” -- despite mounting criticism over the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington, DC, said the sale was likely to be approved by Congress. “We’ve already heard from Mike Johnson, the new Speaker in the House, who said one of his priorities is to make sure Israel, their friend and ally, feels supported by the US. To block it, you’d need two-thirds votes in both houses, and that’s simply not going to happen,” he said.
“The weapons are continuing to be sent to Israel even though a number of Democratic lawmakers have expressed their concerns that the U.S. continues to provide weapons when the Israeli military does not do enough to combat the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” he added.
In addition to warning over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, rights groups have accused Israel of carrying out “acts of genocide” in its war, and Israel has been ordered by the International Court of Justice to take steps to prevent genocide from occurring in the Palestinian territory.
A UN commission of inquiry has accused Israel of carrying out a policy to destroy the healthcare system in Gaza, where some 90 percent of the population has been displaced.
