The Joe Biden administration is gearing up to send additional weaponry, including MK-82 bombs and KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, to Israel, despite ongoing efforts by the US to broker a ceasefire in Gaza. Citing both current and former US officials, the Journal revealed that this arms package also includes FMU-139 bomb fuses, with an estimated value in the "tens of millions of dollars."
While the proposed delivery is still undergoing internal review within the administration, a US official mentioned in the report stated that the details of the proposal might undergo changes before being brought to the attention of congressional committee leaders, who hold authority over approving such transfers.
As of December 2023, the Biden administration has reportedly bypassed congressional review of weapons sales to Israel on two occasions. The decision to continue supplying arms to Israel amidst mounting allegations that American-made weapons have been implicated in strikes resulting in civilian casualties has drawn criticism towards the administration.
The conflict in Gaza erupted when Iran-backed Hamas militants launched attacks into Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and the capture of 253 hostages, as per Israeli figures.
In response, Israel's air and ground offensive inflicted significant devastation on Gaza, claiming the lives of around 28,775 people, predominantly civilians according to Palestinian health authorities, and displacing nearly all of the region's over 2 million inhabitants.
Efforts to reach out to the US State Department, Defense Department, Israel Defense Forces, and Israel Defense Ministry for comment on the report did not yield an immediate response.
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