Biden notifies Congress of $8 billion arms sale to Israel

The US State Department has informally notified Congress of an $8 billion proposed arms sale to Israel according to a report on Friday, weeks before the Biden administration leaves office.

The State Department presented the agreement as a measure to "support Israel's long-term security by resupplying stocks of critical munitions and air defence capabilities," Axios reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

"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 defence," a US official was quoted in the report.

The proposed arms sale, pending congressional approval, includes AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles targeted at airborne threats including drones and fighter jets, 155mm artillery shells, small diameter bombs, 500-pound warheads, bomb fuses and other related equipment, the report added.

The sale will reportedly see munitions delivered from current US stocks, while the majority will take one or more years to be produced and delivered.

Israel continues to face accusations from human rights groups of violations of international law, including in its use of US weapons, in its war with Hamas in Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed. An accusation which it denies.

The US faces criticism for providing military aid to Israel, who according to human rights groups violates international law, including its use of US weapons in its offensive in Gaza.

Biden had earlier halted shipments of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel in May because of its offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, citing civilian casualties in the enclave as a consequence of the bombs. In July, he decided to move ahead with the shipment of 500-pound bombs to Israel after a two-month pause.

The flow of other military equipment to Israel continued, however, including $20 billion in fighter jets and other military supplies that were approved by the State Department in August.

The US, which provides $3.8 billion in annual security assistance to Israel, is by far the biggest supplier of arms to Tel Aviv, with more than 70% of Israel’s arms imports coming from the US, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

US-made weapons have been documented in several Israeli strikes on Gaza that resulted in civilian casualties, although American authorities have declined to confirm the fact.

A State Department report in May said it is “reasonable to assess” that Israel used US-made weapons in ways that are inconsistent with international humanitarian law. The report stopped short of reaching a definitive conclusion, saying it does not have "complete information."

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