His administration announced the plan a week after Biden threatened to freeze some weapons shipments if they attacked the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
The United States wants to give Israel more than $1 billion in arms aid. This information has been informed by the administration to some important legislators.
Besides, three sources related to the Congress disclosed the matter on Tuesday.
His administration announced the plan a week after Biden threatened to freeze some weapons shipments if they attacked the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Earlier, the US administration suspended a shipment of weapons to the country this month in the context of the possibility of an all-out Israeli ground operation in the densely populated Rafah city of Gaza. Among the suspended shipments were 3,500 bombs weighing up to 2,000 pounds.
The new arms aid to Israel disclosed includes about $700 million worth of tank shells, $500 million worth of tactical military vehicles and $600 million worth of mortar shells. Those three sources, who did not want to be named, said that the discussion about the shipment of weapons has not been disclosed yet. However, there was no immediate indication as to when the consignment of arms would be sent.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has informally informed the US Congress about this new package of weapons. Basically, this aid package must be approved by Congress before it can be sent to Israel.
A congressional aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the weapons will be procured from US arms manufacturers and cost more than $1 billion. These weapons will be provided from the recently passed $95 billion defense assistance proposal in Congress.
After seven months of fighting in Gaza, Israel insists “victory” is impossible without capturing Rafah and eliminating the last remaining Hamas battalions.
But the United Nations and Western powers have warned that an all-out attack on Rafah could cause massive civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis.
