The U.S. State Department has initiated the congressional review process for a $1 billion package of weapons aid for Israel, according to two U.S. officials on Tuesday.
The package comprises tank rounds, mortars, and armored tactical vehicles, as reported by one of the officials to Reuters.
Following the informal notification on Tuesday, the State Department has initiated discussions with the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees regarding the potential sale. Currently, there is no established timeline for when Congress will receive formal notification of the sale, which would trigger the approval process.
Biden recently announced a delay in the shipment of 2,000-pound (907-kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel, stemming from concerns that the weaponry might be employed in a significant invasion of Rafah, a town located in southern Gaza.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan informed reporters on Monday that the U.S. would maintain its commitment to provide military assistance as outlined in a $26 billion supplemental funding bill passed last month. The White House decided to halt the shipment of bombs because of concerns that they should not be deployed in densely populated cities.
US officials have indicated that while other cases of weapons shipments to Israel are under review, the US remains committed to ensuring that Israel maintains the military capacity necessary to defend itself. This suggests that longer-term weapons deals are not currently being halted.
