Biden notifies US Congress of planned $8bn arms sales to Israel: Reports

Package to see precision-guided munitions, artillery shells and air-to-air missiles, according to US media reports.

The medication of outgoing United States President Joe Biden has notified Congress of a planned $8bn arms merchantability to Israel, according to US media reports, arsenic the state continues its devastating warfare connected Gaza.

The Department of State sent the overseas affairs committees of the House and the Senate the notification connected Friday, US media reported connected Saturday, citing unnamed officials.

The weapons volition see 500-pound (226kg) warheads, precision-guided munitions, artillery shells, missiles for jets and onslaught helicopters, and weaponry fuses, on with air-to-air missiles to intercept projectiles, the reports said.

Some accumulation and transportation of the munitions tin beryllium fulfilled done existing US stock, but the bulk is expected to beryllium delivered to Israel implicit a longer period, according to the US outlets.

In August, Washington approved a abstracted bundle worthy $20bn, which included jets, subject vehicles, bombs and missiles.

In November, the Biden medication approved different $680m arms package to Israel, including small-diameter bombs and precision-guidance kits.

After the US president past twelvemonth concisely paused the proviso of a azygous shipment of 2,000-pound (907kg) bombs that person caused wide demolition crossed Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publically blasted him.

Biden has consistently emphasised his committedness to the US state and its “self-defence” contempt mounting disapproval implicit the sidesplitting of Palestinian civilians successful Gaza.

Rights groups person accused Israel of carrying retired “acts of genocide” successful Gaza, and Israel has been ordered by the International Court of Justice to instrumentality steps to forestall genocide from occurring successful the Palestinian territory.

A UN committee of enquiry has accused Israel of carrying retired a argumentation to destruct the healthcare strategy successful Gaza, wherever immoderate 90 percent of the colonisation has been displaced.

Israel escalates attacks

Israel has intensified its attacks connected Gaza successful caller days, sidesplitting much than 100 people, according to Palestinian wellness authorities.

The Israeli subject connected Friday ordered the forced evacuation of unit and patients from two hospitals successful bluish Gaza nether menace of attack, days aft its forces stormed the Kamal Adwan Hospital and detained its director.

At slightest 11 radical from the aforesaid household were killed successful the Shujayea neighbourhood successful bluish Gaza connected Saturday.

“At astir 2am [00:00 GMT] we were woken up by the dependable of a immense explosion,” said Ahmed Ayyan, a neighbour of the al-Ghoula family, adding 14 oregon 15 radical were staying successful the house.

“Most of them were women and children, they were each civilians. There is nary 1 determination who changeable missiles oregon is from the resistance.”

Since Israel launched its warfare connected Gaza successful October 2023, astatine slightest 45,717 radical person been killed and 108,856 others person been wounded, according to Palestinian wellness authorities.

Palestinians recite a supplication implicit the bodies of members of the al-Ghoula household astatine the al-Ahli Arab Hospital aft an Israeli onslaught connected their location successful the Shujayea neighbourhood of Gaza City, January 4, 2025 [Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP]

The surge of Israeli attacks connected Gaza successful caller days comes arsenic the Israeli authorities and Hamas authorised representatives to question to Qatar for talks connected a imaginable ceasefire and captive and captive exchange.

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies