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Congress places hold on $1 billion U.S. arms sale to Israel

By isabelle // 2025-02-07

• The U.S. is preparing a $1 billion arms sale to Israel, including bombs and armored bulldozers, amid a fragile Gaza ceasefire.
• Some Democratic lawmakers have placed a hold on the deal, citing concerns over civilian casualties and Israel’s military conduct.
• The sale includes 4,700 1,000-pound bombs and Caterpillar-built bulldozers, part of annual U.S. military aid to Israel.
• Critics argue the timing and nature of the sale enable Israel’s military actions in Gaza, contributing to civilian suffering.
• The deal highlights tensions in U.S.-Israel relations, testing the balance between strategic interests and humanitarian concerns.

  As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington, D.C., on Monday, the Trump administration quietly prepared a $1 billion arms sale to Israel, including bombs and armored bulldozers. The proposed sale, which comes amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza and ongoing tensions in the Middle East, has sparked controversy as some Democratic lawmakers have placed a hold on the deal, citing concerns over civilian casualties and Israel’s military conduct. The arms package, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, includes 4,700 1,000-pound bombs valued at over $700 million and Caterpillar-built armored bulldozers worth more than $300 million. The sale is part of the billions in annual U.S. military aid to Israel, a cornerstone of the U.S.-Israel relationship. However, the timing of the deal—coinciding with Netanyahu's visit and ongoing ceasefire negotiations—has drawn criticism from those who argue that supplying such weapons enables Israel's military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in significant civilian casualties.

A controversial sale amid a fragile ceasefire

The proposed arms sale arrives at a pivotal moment in U.S.-Israel relations. Netanyahu’s visit marks his first meeting with President Trump since the latter’s inauguration, underscoring the importance of the alliance. The two leaders met to discuss the Gaza ceasefire, a potential Israel-Saudi normalization deal, and the broader $8 billion in arms transfers initially requested by the Biden administration. However, the deal is not without its detractors. Some Democratic lawmakers have placed a hold on the sale, citing concerns over Israel’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Gaza, where Palestinian health authorities report over 46,600 deaths since the war began. While the Biden administration notified Congress of the $8 billion arms transfer in January, it has yet to receive full approval due to opposition from key Democrats. The hold on the arms sale reflects growing unease among some lawmakers over U.S. military support for Israel. Historically, arms sales to Israel have enjoyed bipartisan support, but recent events have strained that consensus. Critics argue that supplying Israel with weapons like 1,000-pound bombs and armored bulldozers—used in the past to demolish Palestinian homes—contributes to civilian suffering and undermines U.S. moral standing. Despite these concerns, Trump has signaled his willingness to override congressional holds, as he did in 2019 when he bypassed Congress to push through $8 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other allies.

A test for U.S.-Israel relations

The arms sale and its potential approval—or rejection—will serve as a litmus test for the U.S.-Israel relationship under the Trump administration. While the U.S. has long viewed military support for Israel as an investment in American national security, the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has forced a reckoning. As Netanyahu meets with Trump and congressional leaders this week, the stakes are high. The outcome of these discussions will not only shape the future of U.S.-Israel military cooperation but also signal whether the U.S. is willing to balance its strategic interests with humanitarian concerns. In the meantime, the $1 billion arms sale remains in limbo, caught between the administration’s commitment to Israel and Congress’s growing unease over the consequences of unchecked military aid.   Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com WSJ.com TheHill.com

Israel genocide Trump deep state chaos humanitarian WWIII government debt Gaza Netanyahu