The United States is preparing to provide $3.5 billion (around Rp. 55.8 trillion) in aid to Israel to buy weapons and equipment from the US, an official told Reuters. AnadoluSaturday (10/8).
The funds come from a $14.1 billion supplemental bill approved by Congress in April, he added.
“On Thursday, August 8, the Department notified Congress of our intent to obligate $3.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2024 Foreign Military Financing using funding provided by the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act,” a State Department spokesperson said.
This was first reported by CNNciting several officials familiar with the matter, as saying that “it is not unusual for it to take time to clear the money from these packages.”
According to CNNthe funding was released this week as Israel and the Middle East braced for possible retaliatory moves from Iran and Hezbollah after Tel Aviv killed Hamas’ political chief in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.
The US has faced criticism for providing military aid to Israel, as 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, by Israeli bombardment, which US President Joe Biden has described as “indiscriminate.”
Also read: Not Stopping Deliveries, US Only Condemns Use of Weapons in Gaza
Several human rights groups and former US State Department officials have urged the Biden administration to suspend arms transfers to Israel, citing violations of international law and human rights.
Twelve former US officials said in a statement last month that “US diplomatic cover for, and the continued flow of arms to, Israel has ensured our undeniable complicity in the killing and forced starvation of the besieged Palestinian population in Gaza.”
The twelve former US officials include former US State Department officials Josh Paul, Annelle Sheline, Stacy Gilbert and Hala Rharrit.
A long-awaited report in May said it was “reasonable to assess” that Israel used US-made weapons in a manner inconsistent with or in violation of international humanitarian law.
The report did not reach a definitive conclusion, saying the contents of the report lacked “complete information.” (Ant/Z-6)
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