The United States on Tuesday approved more than $20 billion in weapons sales to Israel.
Reuters reported that the move was approved by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The deal reportedly includes F-15 fighter jets and nearly 33,000 tank cartridges.
According to the Associated Press (AP), Congress was notified about the sale prior to a public announcement from the U.S. Department of State. The sale is said to include more than 50 F-15 fighter jets; Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, or AMRAAMs; 120 mm tank ammunition and high explosive mortars; and military vehicles.
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the State Department said in a statement about the sale. “This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.”
However, the weapons are not expected to get to Israel anytime soon as the contracts are expected to take years to fulfill, with first deliveries expected in 2029, the AP reported.
In addition, the contracts will include upgrade kits for Israel to modify its existing fleet of two dozen F-15 fighter jets with new engines and radars, among other upgrades. This represents the biggest portion of the $20 billion in sales.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department via email for comment.
Israeli officials estimate that around 1,200 people were killed in Hamas‘ initial attack on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza. About 240 people were also taken hostage during the attack, around half of whom are believed to still be in the captivity of Hamas and allied Palestinian factions. Israel has also said that more than 320 IDF soldiers have been killed in the ensuing ground offensive.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Health Ministry based in Hamas-led Gaza has counted more than 39,600 people killed and wounded more than 92,000 others in the Palestinian territory since the war began.
Even while pushing for a ceasefire, President Joe Biden‘s administration has remained firm in its support of its ally Israel despite protests throughout the U.S. over the war.
However, the Biden administration continues to face increasing pressure from both lawmakers and the American public to reconsider its military support for Israel, as the civilian casualties in Gaza increase.
It comes as the administration decided to recently delay the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, citing concerns over ongoing airstrikes in densely populated areas in Gaza, the AP reported.
