Representatives of US President Joseph Biden’s administration have told key lawmakers that they will send a new package of more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition to Israel, two congressional aides said. As the Voice of America (VOA) reports, it is the first arms delivery to Israel announced by the administration since it put the transfer of 3,500 bombs on hold earlier this month.
The administration said it paused that earlier transfer to prevent Israel from using the bombs in an offensive against the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Aides in Congress agreed to confirm this information on the condition of remaining anonymous, because the decision on the transfer of weapons has not yet been announced, according to VOA.
The package being sent includes about $700 million for tank ammunition, $500 million for tactical vehicles and $60 million for mortar ammunition, the aides said.
There was no immediate indication of when the weapons would be sent, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first published information about the new plans of the Biden administration.
