US Congress notified of planned US$8 billion weapons sale to Israel

Some of the arms in the package could be sent through current US stocks but the majority would take a year or several years to deliver, according to two US officials on Saturday who spoke on condition of anonymity because the notification to Congress has not been formally sent.

The sale includes medium-range air-to-air missiles to help Israel defend against airborne threats, 155mm projectile artillery shells for long-range targeting, Hellfire AGM-114 missiles, 500-pound bombs and more.

The weapons package would add to a record of at least US$17.9 billion in military aid that the US has provided Israel since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, launched the war.

The Biden administration has faced criticism over mounting deaths of Palestinian civilians. There have been protests on college campuses and unsuccessful efforts in Congress by Senator Bernie Sanders and some Democrats to block sales of offensive weapons to Israel.