The American newspaper Washington Post (WP), citing unnamed Pentagon and State Department officials, reported that the Biden administration recently approved new arms shipments to Israel.
In the news article, it was pointed out that the Biden administration made the shipments in question without notifying Congress and without publicizing it this time, as it had made these shipments according to previous Congressional notifications.
Approval for sale of 25 F-35s, thousands of unguided bombs
Accordingly, the US administration approved the sale of 25 F-35s and aircraft engines to Israel, which continues its attacks on Gaza, without making a public announcement.
Since the first Congressional approval of the $2.5 billion sale was based on a 2008 notification, the State Department did not notify the public or Congress this time.
On the other hand, the US administration approved the shipment of 1800 MK84 unguided bombs and 500 MK82 unguided bombs.
Weighing around 900 kilograms and causing devastating damage, Israel’s MK84 bombs dropped on Gaza have played a major role in civilian casualties. Similarly, the 220-kilogram MK82 bombs are defined as indiscriminate bombs because they are unguided.
The package contained MK84 and MK82 bombs as well as other ammunition.
Approval following the visit of Israeli Defense Minister Gallant
It was also noteworthy that these arms approvals were made immediately after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s visit to Washington this week.
“We continue to support Israel’s right to self-defense, we don’t have a policy of making (arms aid to Israel) conditional,” a White House official told WP.
Some Democrats in the US Congress have criticized the administration for sending arms to Israel without notifying Congress, while the Biden administration cites “Israel’s right to defend itself.”
In February, US President Joe Biden issued a memorandum demanding that countries receiving arms from the US, including Israel, provide assurances that they are “acting in accordance with international law”.
The US State Department has also stated that Israel is “waging war in accordance with international law,” despite the allegations of violations of the laws of war that have been publicized in videos.
