The US in recent days authorised the transfer of billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel, two sources familiar with the effort said on Friday, even as Washington publicly expresses concerns about an anticipated Israeli military offensive in Rafah.
The new arms packages include more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, said the sources, who confirmed a report in the Washington Post.
Washington gives $3.8 billion in annual military assistance to Israel, its longtime ally.
The package comes as Israel faces strong international criticism over its continued bombing campaign and ground offensive in Gaza and as some members of President Joe Biden’s party call for him to cut US military aid.
The United States has been rushing air defenses and munitions to Israel, but some Democrats and Arab American groups have criticised the Biden administration’s steadfast support of Israel, which they say provides it with a sense of impunity.
Biden on Friday acknowledged “the pain being felt” by many Arab
Americans over the war in Gaza and over US support for Israel and its military offensive. Still, he has vowed continued support for Israel despite an increasingly public rift with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, a United States State Department official, who promoted human rights on behalf of the US government, has become the latest staffer to leave her post in opposition to President Joe Biden’s ‘horrific’ support for Israel’s war against Gaza.
Annelle Sheline, who was a Middle East analyst, announced her resignation in an interview with the Washington Post, as the official death toll in Gaza reached 32,490 since October 7, and the World Food Programme has warned that famine in the enclave is imminent.
