The Biden administration has sanctioned the transfer of a significant cache of military munitions to Israel, including over 1,000 500-pound MK82 bombs and more than 1,000 small-diameter bombs. This move adds to Israel's arsenal amidst ongoing concerns regarding the country's military actions in the Gaza conflict. According to sources familiar with the matter, this approval was granted prior to an Israeli strike on a humanitarian convoy in Gaza, which resulted in the death of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, an event that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later described as an "unintentional" targeting.
The arms transfer has ignited controversy, especially in light of recent international backlash against Israel for the convoy strike and increasing calls from some Democratic lawmakers for the U.S. to reconsider or condition its military aid to Israel. The decision to proceed with the munitions transfer came despite earlier incidents reported by CNN, where over 190 aid workers in Gaza and the West Bank were killed in the nearly six-month-long conflict.
Former State Department official Josh Paul, who resigned in protest over continuous U.S. arms transfers to Israel, remarked on the potential for the State Department to revoke such approvals post-factum, especially under current circumstances. This suggestion underscores the growing debate within the U.S. regarding its military support for Israel amid the conflict.
Further compounding the issue, the U.S. had authorized a similar transfer of weaponry just last week, including nearly 2,000 2,000-pound MK84 bombs, which have been linked to mass casualty events in Gaza in the past. Notably, these transfers did not require fresh congressional approval as they were sanctioned under arms sales notifications approved in 2012 and 2015, with the munitions now being delivered following production.
Despite President Joe Biden expressing outrage over the recent strike that killed aid workers and planning discussions with Netanyahu, the U.S. administration has not indicated any plans to restrict or condition military aid to Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the U.S.'s commitment to Israel's security and its right to self-defense, highlighting the long-term nature of these weapon requests.
As the death toll in Gaza surpasses 32,000 since the onset of the conflict in October, prompted by a Hamas terror attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis, the U.S. continues to navigate its diplomatic and military support for Israel. This includes progressing with new arms deals, such as an $18 billion sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel, further emphasizing the strategic and defense-oriented nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
