US approves $7.41B military sale to Israel amid Netanyahu’s Washington visit

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $7.41 billion foreign military sale to Israel, the Pentagon announced on Friday.

The sale includes “munitions, guidance kits, fuzes, and munitions support, along with related equipment,” for an estimated cost of $6.75 billion, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Additionally, the department authorized a separate sale of “AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and related equipment” for an estimated $660 million.

The agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of these potential sales on Friday.

The approved sale will provide Israel with 3,000 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, as well as bombs, ammunition, guidance kits, and missile support equipment, with a total value of $6.75 billion. Specifically, Israel will receive 2,166 small bombs, 2,800 general-purpose 500-kilogram bombs, and 13,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits, among thousands of other bombs and guidance kits in various categories.

The announcement came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington, where he met with President Donald Trump to discuss bilateral ties and the ongoing war in Gaza.

“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the Pentagon stated.

Death toll keeps rising in Gaza

Israel launched a devastating offensive against Hamas in Gaza in October 2023. The war has led to widespread destruction across Gaza and the displacement of much of its population. A ceasefire has been in effect since last month, halting the deadly conflict and facilitating the release of hostages seized by Hamas.

The U.S. has faced criticism for supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza, where more than 47,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed since October 7, 2023. Several American lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders, have repeatedly called for the U.S. government to stop providing weapons to Israel, accusing it of complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza.

In the previous month, Trump lifted a hold imposed by the Biden administration on supplying bombs to Israel. Last May, then-President Biden paused a weapons shipment that included 2,000-pound bombs due to concerns over their potential use in densely populated areas of Gaza.

However, reports indicate that former President Donald Trump approved the shipment after returning to office.

While the State Department has approved the sale of bombs and missiles, the transactions still need Congressional approval.

It is unlikely that Congress will block the provision of weapons to Israel, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East.