The Axios news website quoted Israeli and American officials as saying that the United States and Israel are discussing written guarantees requested by Washington regarding the use of weapons in light of the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip for the 153rd day.
The officials said that the administration of US President Joe Biden asked Israel to submit a letter of guarantees by the middle of this month, in light of increasing calls in Congress to impose restrictions on the supply of weapons to Israel if it continues to obstruct the entry of aid into the Strip.
President Biden’s administration has previously pledged to provide weapons and aid to Israel worth $14.3 billion, in addition to traditional annual aid worth $3.4 billion.
The Washington Post also reported that the United States has approved and delivered more than 100 arms sales deals to Israel since the beginning of its devastating war on Gaza on October 7th.
The newspaper added – quoting American officials and legislators – who said that arms sales and transfers were dealt with by executive orders by the US administration without public discussion.
This is accompanied by several criticisms and protests witnessed by the United States in support of Palestine, denouncing the Israeli war on Gaza, and demanding an end to American support for Israel in this war.
A pro-Palestine demonstration outside the White House denouncing the Israeli war on Gaza (Anatolia)
These criticisms have escalated recently, especially after the US administration announced its confirmation of what it calls “commitment to Israel’s security” and sending shipments in batches, including ammunition and equipment, to Israel, in addition to accusations against Washington of supplying Tel Aviv with lethal weapons that cause large numbers of casualties in the Gaza Strip.
More than 30 relief organizations sent a letter to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urging him not to send 155 mm shells in particular, as they are indiscriminate shells in nature used in the Gaza Strip, which is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
Earlier, Amnesty International documented the Israeli army’s use of American-made JDAM munitions in two “deadly and illegal” air strikes on homes full of civilians in Gaza, calling for them to be investigated as war crimes.
In recent years, Congress has approved measures to monitor the final use of American weapons, and American aid and arms sales – including weapons destined for Israel – are subject to laws such as the AECA and the Foreign Assistance Act.
Israel is the largest recipient of US foreign aid since World War IIAccording to official American indicators, the total aid provided by the United States to Israel between 1946 and 2023 amounted to about 158.6 billion dollars.
#Axios #America #requested #guarantees #Israel #weapons
2024-03-07 16:16:00
