WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s administration has approved the sale of more than $7.4 billion in bombs, missiles, and other military equipment to Israel, despite growing concerns over the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza.
The approval has sparked backlash from Democratic lawmakers, with calls for the sale to be paused until further information is provided regarding the rationale behind the decision.
According to the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the State Department has signed off on a $6.75 billion deal for bombs, guidance kits, and fuses, as well as an additional $660 million for Hellfire missiles.
The DSCA argued that the sale would strengthen Israel’s defence, and act as a deterrent to regional challenges.
“This sale improves Israel’s capability to meet current and future threats and strengthens its ability to defend its borders, infrastructure, and population centres,” said a DSCA statement.
The approval comes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in widespread destruction and the killing of more than 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza health authorities.
The Israeli military campaign since October 2023 has drawn international condemnation, with critics labelling the attacks as genocidal.
Despite the humanitarian concerns, the US government has proceeded with the sale. The bombs and missiles will be supplied by major contractors, including Boeing Co. for the munitions and Lockheed Martin for the Hellfire missiles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington this week, where he held meetings with President Donald Trump and key US officials, discussing the continuation of US support for Israel.
However, the move has been met with opposition from members of Congress. Representative Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned the decision for bypassing the usual congressional review process.
Nearly 200 lawmakers had previously written to the Trump administration, urging a pause in the arms sale until further information was provided.
“I continue to support Israel’s critical military needs, but I am deeply concerned by the lack of transparency surrounding this decision,” Meeks said.
He further expressed his frustration at what he perceived as a disregard for Congress’s constitutional role in reviewing such sales. “In the United States, we do not have kings. We are a democracy governed by laws,” he added.
ALSO READ: Trump Sanctions ICC For “Illegitimate” Israel, US Probes
The Trump administration, which has forged close ties with Netanyahu, has defended the sale as a vital step in supporting Israel’s security needs. President Trump has consistently backed Israel in its military operations against Gaza and has indicated his intent to take over Gaza, which has drawn international criticism.
The approval of the military equipment sale follows a similar move by former President Joe Biden’s administration in January, which notified Congress of an $8 billion arms package to Israel. Biden’s approach, however, involved greater congressional oversight.
While the sale has been approved by the State Department, it still requires Congressional approval. However, it is unlikely that the US legislature will block the deal, given Israel’s status as one of Washington’s closest allies in the Middle East.
