US Considers Sending Weapon Support to Israel Amidst Calls for Gaza Ceasefire

Defense News ,US :- The Biden administration is thinking about sending bombs and other weapons to Israel to boost its military strength, despite urging a ceasefire in Gaza, as per a report from the Wall Street Journal on Friday. Current and former U.S. officials revealed that the proposed arms shipment includes MK-82 bombs, KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munitions for precision guidance, and FMU-139 bomb fuses, with an estimated value in the tens of millions of dollars.

The administration is still internally reviewing the proposed delivery, and details may change before notifying congressional committee leaders who must approve the transfer, according to a U.S. official mentioned in the report. The U.S. State Department, Defense Department, Israel Defense Forces, and Israel Defense Ministry did not respond immediately to a Reuters request for comment.

As of December 2023, the Biden administration had skipped congressional review of weapons sales to Israel twice, drawing criticism for supplying arms amid allegations that American-made weapons have been used in strikes causing civilian casualties.

The conflict in Gaza began when Iran-backed Hamas sent fighters into Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and 253 hostages seized, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's air and ground offensive has since devastated much of Gaza, causing 28,775 deaths, mostly civilians according to Palestinian health authorities, and displacing nearly all of its 2 million inhabitants from their homes.