The Biden administration informed key lawmakers that it plans to send over $1 billion in additional arms and ammunition to Israel, as reported by three congressional aides on May 15. The timing of the delivery of these weapons remains unknown.
This arms shipment is the first to Israel that has been disclosed since the administration decided to halt another arms transfer earlier this month, which consisted of 3,500 bombs weighing up to 2,000 pounds each.
The Biden administration paused this bomb transfer due to concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza, aiming to prevent Israel from using these specific munitions in its offensive in the densely populated southern Gaza city of Rafah.
The package revealed on May 15 includes approximately $700 million for tank ammunition, $500 million for tactical vehicles, and $60 million for mortar rounds, according to the congressional aides who requested anonymity to discuss an arms transfer that has not yet been publicly announced.
The timing of the arms shipment remains uncertain. Two congressional aides mentioned that this shipment is separate from the foreign aid package that Congress approved and President Biden signed last month. It is unclear whether this shipment is part of an existing arms sale or a new initiative.
The Biden administration has faced criticism from various political factions regarding its military assistance to Israel during the ongoing seven-month conflict with Hamas in Gaza. This comes at a time when President Biden is seeking reelection against former President Donald Trump.
Some Democrats have urged President Biden to restrict the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel to encourage the U.S. ally to take more action to safeguard Palestinian civilians.
Demonstrations on college campuses across the United States have emphasized this message in recent months.
Republican lawmakers have capitalized on the administration’s temporary halt on bomb transfers, arguing that any reduction in U.S. support for Israel, its closest Middle Eastern ally, undermines the country’s fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed groups. In the House, they are preparing to advance a bill this week that would require the provision of offensive weaponry to Israel.
Despite the suspension of one bomb shipment, President Biden and administration officials have made it clear that they will continue to deliver other weapons and provide comprehensive military support to Israel, which is the largest recipient of U.S. military aid.
National security spokesman John Kirby assured reporters on May 13 that President Biden will ensure that “Israel has all the necessary military capabilities to defend itself against all its enemies, including Hamas.” He emphasized that while the U.S. will continue to provide Israel with the required capabilities, certain categories of American weapons will not be used in specific operations or locations. President Biden has consistently conveyed this stance.
The Wall Street Journal initially reported the plans for a $1 billion weapons package to Israel.
In response to the House Republicans’ intention to proceed with a bill mandating the delivery of offensive weapons to Israel, the White House announced on May 14 that President Biden would veto the bill if it were to pass Congress.
Given the Democratic majority in the Senate, the bill has virtually no chance of success. However, House Democrats hold differing views on the matter, and approximately twenty-four of them have signed a letter to the Biden administration expressing their “deep concerns about the message” conveyed by the temporary suspension of the bomb shipment.
New York Representative Ritchie Torres, one of the signatories of the letter, expressed his intention to support the bill despite the opposition from the White House.
Torres stated that he generally supports pro-Israel legislation, unless it contains provisions that negatively impact domestic policies.
Apart from the written veto threat, the White House has been actively communicating with lawmakers and congressional aides regarding the legislation, as confirmed by an administration official.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized the administration’s strong opposition to any attempts that limit the President’s authority to allocate U.S. security assistance in line with foreign policy and national security objectives. She also reiterated the administration’s commitment to utilizing all the funds allocated by Congress in the national security supplemental package signed into law by President Biden last month.
