- Joe Biden plans to send $8 billion arms shipment to Israel
- The proposed sale requires approval from the House and the Senate
- The planned sale comes just weeks ahead of Biden’s departure from office
Joe Biden plans to send $8bn arms shipment to Israel before leaving office
President Joe Biden is planning an $8 billion arms shipment to Israel, the US Department of State told the BBC. The proposed sale, which includes missiles, artillery shells, and other munitions, requires approval from House and Senate committees.
The announcement comes just weeks before President Biden is set to leave office. Washington has dismissed calls to suspend military aid to Israel, despite the significant number of civilians being killed in Gaza.
In August, the US approved a $20 billion sale of fighter jets and other military equipment to Israel. This latest shipment includes air-to-air missiles, Hellfire missiles, artillery shells, and bombs, according to a US official.
Biden has consistently described US support for Israel as “iron-clad.”
The US remains Israel’s largest arms supplier, playing a key role in building one of the world’s most advanced militaries. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US accounted for 69% of Israel’s major conventional arms imports between 2019 and 2023.