Sources Say Biden is Preparing $1 Billion Weapons Package for Israel

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has informed key lawmakers that it is sending a new package of more than $1 billion worth of arms and ammunition to Israel, according to two congressional aides on Tuesday.

It’s the first arms shipment to Israel to be announced by the administration since it paused an earlier transfer — consisting of 3,500 bombs — earlier in the month. The administration has said it halted that earlier transfer to prevent Israel from using the bombs in its intensifying offensive in the densely populated southern Gaza city of Rafah.

The congressional aides spoke anonymously to discuss an arms transfer that has not yet been made public.

The package being sent includes around $700 million for tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles and $60 million in mortar rounds, the aides said.

There was no immediate indication of when the arms would be sent. Israel is now seven months into its war against Hamas in Gaza.

The Wall Street Journal first reported plans to move the package.