WASHINGTON — The State Department has informed Congress of a planned $8 billion weapons sale to Israel, U.S. officials report, as the American ally continues its military action against Hamas in Gaza. This package is designed to bolster Israel's long-term security by resupplying essential munitions and enhancing air defense capabilities.

Some armaments in the deal may be dispatched from current U.S. stocks, but the bulk will require a delivery period of a year or more, according to officials who asked to remain anonymous as the formal notification to Congress is still pending. The arms package includes medium-range air-to-air missiles, 155 mm artillery shells for long-range targeting, Hellfire AGM-114 missiles, and 500-pound bombs, among other assets.

This proposed sale would contribute to a staggering total of at least $17.9 billion in military assistance the U.S. has provided Israel since hostilities with Hamas reignited on October 7, 2023. Throughout the conflict, the Biden administration has faced substantial scrutiny over the rising number of Palestinian civilian casualties, leading to protests across various college campuses and unsuccessful attempts by Senator Bernie Sanders and other Democratic leaders to halt the sale of offensive weaponry to Israel.

Notably, the United States had previously suspended the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel in May due to worries about potential civilian casualties during operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Concurrently, the administration has urged Israel to enhance humanitarian efforts in the region, yet, citing some limited advancements, it decided against imposing restrictions on arms transfers.

Reports indicate that Israeli airstrikes have recently intensified, resulting in numerous casualties, thereby exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives since the conflict commenced. As the Israeli army conducts targeted operations against Hamas, there are claims of a death toll exceeding 45,000 Palestinians, including significant numbers of women and children.

These developments unfold as winter arrives, with approximately 90% of Gaza's population displaced, leading many to seek refuge in tents along the coast. The informal notification to Congress does not represent the final approval process, as leaders of both the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees will now evaluate the proposed weapons sale.

News of the arms sale was initially reported by Axios.

For more details, visit the full article on AP News.

Additional coverage can be found on South China Morning Post and CBS News.