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Joe Biden's administration tentatively approved $8 billion worth of new weapons for Israel in a last-minute show of support for the US president's close ally after more than a year of war in Gaza.
The State Department announced the sale to Congress late Friday in what was called an informal announcement, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Such an announcement comes ahead of the public announcement of the deal, which will require approval by the Senate and the House Foreign Affairs Committee before it can pass.
Axios first reported the planned sale, which one of the people said includes $6.75 billion in precision-guided missiles and small bombs, $300 million in 155mm artillery shells, $600 million in Hellfire missiles and $300 million in Amraam air-to-air missiles. familiar with the matter.
A second person said some weapons are coming directly from US stockpiles, but many will take a year or more to arrive.
Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed more than 45 thousand people in the enclave, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel launched the offensive in response to an October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials.
Biden administration officials have vowed to continue efforts to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza until the end of their term on January 20, but talks have been suspended for months.
The administration has repeatedly expressed concern to Israel about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but has largely not followed through on threats to freeze the weapons.
In November, the State Department withdrew its threat to withhold military aid even after aid deliveries to Gaza fell to a record low, saying it was satisfied that Israel had taken steps to improve the humanitarian situation.
US officials say aid deliveries have since improved but remain insufficient. Aid groups have repeatedly warned that the Israeli offensive has fueled a humanitarian disaster in the enclave and called for much more aid.
Biden has said he supports Israel's right to defend itself and has promised to supply it with weapons as part of efforts to deter Iran and its proxies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu often accuses the US of delaying the delivery of weapons and ammunition, which the Biden administration denies.
In November, Netanyahu said he had agreed to a cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, in part to help Israeli forces replenish their supplies.
That month, the Biden administration informally notified Congress that it planned to give Israel 680 million dollars in precision weapons.
The announcement came after some Democrats in Congress tried and failed to block a $20 billion arms sale to Israel last summer.
In April, Congress approved another $26 billion in war aid to Israel. This was in addition to the $3.8 billion in security assistance the US provides to Israel annually.
