In a move bypassing congressional approval, Trump authorized a $3 billion arms deal with Israel
The Trump administration has authorized an arms deal valued at nearly $3 billion to Israel, bypassing the usual congressional review procedures in order to hasten the transfer of 2,000-pound bombs. These munitions are frequently employed by the Israeli military in its continuous operations in the Gaza Strip.
The State Department has informed Congress of its authorization for a significant arms transaction, granting approval for the sale of over 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs, along with 4,000 Predator warheads, to Israel. The deal is valued at $2.04 billion. This notification was issued on Friday, marking a substantial development in U.S.-Israel defense relations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially concluded that an emergency situation necessitates the urgent sale of defense articles and services to the Government of Israel. Citing national security interests of the United States, Rubio has furnished comprehensive justification for this determination, which consequently allows for the bypassing of Congressional review requirements, according to a statement from the department.
The company announced that shipments are scheduled to commence next year.
In the same announcement, Rubio has sanctioned an additional munitions deal with Israel valued at $675.7 million, with deliveries slated to commence in 2028.
The Israeli authorities have frequently utilized the MK 84, a 2,000-pound bomb, in its military operations targeting Lebanon and Palestine. These operations have included the targeted killing of high-ranking leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah.
In May of the previous year, the United States’ former administration sought to limit Israel’s military activities in Rafah, a city located in southern Gaza, by instituting a temporary prohibition on the sale of 2,000-pound bombs.
Despite the attempts, the initiative ultimately failed to stop the invasion, as the United States proceeded with delivering additional weaponry to the Israeli government.
On February 25, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz reversed a previous prohibition, authorizing the State Department to resume sales of bombs to the regime.
In a recent statement shared on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, Ramy Abdu, the founder and chairman of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, voiced strong condemnation regarding the deployment of American weaponry and policies in actions of violence and oppression targeting Palestinians.
In a recently released statement, the individual expressed profound distress, alleging that American-made weapons are being used in actions tantamount to genocide against their people. The statement further claims that U.S. policy decisions are contributing to widespread starvation, with accusations of children suffering injuries from these arms. The language utilized underscores an enduring resentment, with a firm declaration of neither forgetting nor forgiving the perceived injustices.
The U.S. State Department has given the green light for the sale of Caterpillar D9 Bulldozers and associated equipment to Israel, with the deal valued at approximately $295 million.
The Israeli authorities have deployed D9 bulldozers in operations that have led to the demolition of numerous Palestinian homes in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The military operations involving D9 have been marked by multiple incidents resulting in civilian casualties. Notably, in 2023, these operations included an attack on refugees who were seeking shelter near the Kamal Adwan Hospital.
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has informed Caterpillar Inc. that by providing bulldozers to the current regime, the company is allegedly implicated in human rights violations.
