The Biden administration is on the verge of approving the sale of up to 50 American-made F-15 fighter jets to Israel in a deal valued at over $18 billion. This transaction is set to become the largest US foreign military sale to Israel since the country's conflict with Hamas in October.
Alongside this fighter jet deal, the administration is also expected to inform Congress soon about a significant new sale of precision-guided munitions to Israel. These sales highlight the ongoing military support that the US provides to Israel, despite criticisms from Biden administration officials regarding Israel's operations in Gaza.
Since October, more than 32,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza due to the conflict. The sale of advanced weaponry to Israel is likely to spark debates in Congress, especially among members of the president's party. Recent scrutiny of US weapons sales to Israel has led Democratic lawmakers to push for restrictions on military aid until Israel allows more humanitarian aid into Gaza and takes steps to protect civilians.
Following the attack by Hamas on Israel in October, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis, the United States has conducted over 100 foreign military sales to Israel. Most of these sales have been below the dollar threshold that necessitates notification to Congress, according to an official familiar with the matter.
