The Biden administration is advancing a $680 million arms sales package to Israel, including thousands of joint direct attack munition (JDAM) kits and hundreds of small-diameter bombs, as confirmed by a U.S. official.
This move follows the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, though Israel continues his airstrikes in Gaza.
The arms package, which has been in discussion since September, was formally submitted for review in October. It builds on a previous $20 billion sale of fighter jets and military equipment to Israel in August.
Despite concerns from progressive U.S. senators about human rights issues in Gaza, including a failed resolution to block part of the sale, President Biden has maintained strong support for Israel following the October 2023 Hamas attack. Since then, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with more than 43,900 Palestinians reported killed by Israel and much of the population displaced.
