WASHINGTON, DC — The Trump administration has approved a close to $3 billion in arms sale to Israel, bypassing regular Congressional reviews and providing the country with the 2,000-pound bomb that it used in the war with Hamas in Gaza.
In a series of notices sent to Congress late Friday, the Department said it had registered for sale of 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs and 4,000 predator warheads worth $2.04 billion.
The State Department has approved Israel’s purchase of the Caterpillar D9 bulldozer and related equipment at an estimated cost of $295 million. Delivery by the Irving, Texas-based company is expected to begin in 2027.
Defense Security Cooperation has issued a statement confirming munitions sales to Israel at an estimated cost of $675.7 million. Repkon USA in Tampa, Florida, and Boeing Company in St. Charles, Missouri, will manufacture equipment estimated to be delivered to Israel from 2028.
On Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that he “signed a declaration that uses emergency authorities to promote the delivery of approximately $4 billion in military aid to Israel.”
Rubio said the Trump administration has previously approved nearly $12 billion in foreign military sales to Israel.
The latest weapon sales are as follows: The first phase of the ceasefiresuspending the 15-month war, freeing Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, allowing more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas appear willing to maintain their ceasefire while the US negotiators, Egyptian and Qatar guides, aim to reach the next stage.
The parties should have begun to resolve phase details two weeks ago. However, consultations were delayed as the first six weeks of the ceasefire were undermined by a conflict between Israel and Hamas over alleged violations of the transaction.
Under the conditions of the ceasefire that began on January 19th, the second phase forces Hamas to release all remaining hostages from the war-caused terrorist attacks on October 7th, 2023, in exchange for Israeli Palestinian prisoners.
Over the past six weeks, Hamas has released 33 live and dead hostages in exchange for more than 1,700 Palestinian prisoners. The extremist group still holds 59 prisoners of war, of which 32 are believed to be dead.
Israel is reportedly seeking an extension of the first stage to ensure more prisoners of war.
The Middle East crisis
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