 "Air-to-air missiles, drones and more: Biden plans $8 bn arms sale to Israel, notifies Congress")
The US State Department has notified Congress about an arms deal package for Israel worth $8 billion in the latest show of sign that Washington will continue to back its ally in the Gaza war.
Sources have told Axios that this military package will likely be the last commissioned by the Joe Biden administration before he leaves office and makes way for US President-elect Donald Trump.
The latest development comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters claim that the US administration has put a “silent embargo” on the transfer of arms.
Meanwhile, some Democrats urged the administration to make arms sales to Israel contingent on its management of the war effort and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but Biden chose not to pursue this approach.
“The President has made clear Israel has a right to defend its citizens, consistent with international law and international humanitarian law, and to deter aggression from Iran and its proxy organizations. We will continue to provide the capabilities necessary for Israel’s defense,” an official told Axios.
What does the arms deal include?
The arms sale, which still needs the approval of the House of Representatives and Senate committees, includes AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles for fighter jets to defend against airborne threats, including drones.
It also contains 155mm artillery shells, Hellfire AGM-114 missiles for attack helicopters, small diameter bombs, JDAM tail kits that turn “dumb bombs” into precision munitions, 500-lb warheads and bomb fuzes.
Ceasefire talks resume in Qatar
Meanwhile, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a truce in Gaza resumed on Friday, the Palestinian militant group said in a statement.
“Indirect negotiations will resume today, Friday, in the Qatari capital Doha,” Hamas said.
The group added the talks would “focus on ensuring the agreement leads to a complete cessation of hostilities (and) the withdrawal of occupation forces”.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been engaged in months of back-and-forth talks between Israel and Hamas that have failed to end more than a year of devastating conflict in Gaza.
With inputs from agencies
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