United States Sanctions $510 Million Arms Package to ‘israel’ Amid Gaza Crisis Allegations
The United States government has sanctioned a $510 million arms deal with Israel, bolstering its military support as the conflict in Gaza enters the 21st month.
The transaction, authorized on June 30, encompasses the provision of more than 7,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits. This includes 3,845 KMU-558B/B kits designed for the BLU-109 bomb body, alongside 3,280 KMU-572 F/B kits tailored for the MK-82 bomb body.
Furthermore, the agreement encompasses provisions for technical support, engineering assistance, and logistics services supplied by the United States government.
The U.S. State Department announced that the arms transfer aims to support Israel in developing and maintaining a robust and prepared military capability, describing it as crucial to U.S. national security interests.
The arms agreement has received approval via the Foreign Military Sales program and was formally communicated to Congress on Monday.
Boeing has been designated as the main contractor for the project, and it is anticipated that part of the order could be fulfilled from the current US military stockpiles.
The United States government asserted that the transaction “will not impact the fundamental military balance in the region.”
In February, the U.S. State Department confirmed the authorization of a significant arms sale to Israel, valued at over $7.4 billion. The approval comes amid ongoing international scrutiny over Israel’s deployment of American-made weaponry in its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
The arsenal comprised thousands of MK 84 bombs, penetrator warheads, along with Caterpillar D9 bulldozers.
In a statement, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) affirmed the nation’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, emphasizing that supporting Israel is crucial to the national interests of the United States.
On May 27, Tel Aviv announced the receipt of over 90,000 tons of American military equipment across a span of 600 days, with recent shipments marking the 800th delivery. Israel emphasized that these arms have been instrumental in its operations in Gaza.
In a statement earlier this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded Trump, stating that he is “the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House,” citing the delivery of munitions that had previously been delayed as evidence of this strong alliance.
Since October 7, 2023, when military operations commenced in Gaza, the ongoing conflict has resulted in the reported deaths of at least 56,674 Palestinians and has left 134,105 injured, according to figures released by the Gaza health ministry.
Amid mounting global condemnation of the regime’s alleged atrocities in Gaza, the United States persists in delivering military aid to Israel, despite warnings that such actions could implicate it in the ongoing conflict and devastation in the region.
