New York

Israel-Hamas war: The United States is reportedly at the brink of approving an arms sale to Israel, which if ultimately approved, would be the largest-ever arms sales to Israel since the beginning of war in Gaza after October 7 last year.

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According to a report in the Washington Post, two key Democrats in the US Congress have agreed to support a major arms sale to Israel that includes 50 F-15 fighter jets worth more than $18 billion. The US daily reported while citing three unnamed officials.

The newspaper reported that Representative Gregory Meeks and Senator Ben Cardin have signed off on the deal under heavy pressure from the Biden administration. For months, the two lawmakers had held up the sale amid unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza that has left more than 37,000 dead in the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

Also read | Gaza war: Israel's use of US-supplied weapons may have violated international law, says Washington

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"Any issues or concerns Chair Cardin had were addressed through our ongoing consultations with the (Biden)Administration, and that’s why he felt it appropriate to allow this case to move forward," Eric Harris, communications director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was quoted as saying by the Washington Post. 

Meeks told the newspaper that he had been in close contact with the White House and had urged them to pressure Israel over humanitarian efforts and civilian casualties. He added that the F-15s would not be delivered until "years from now". 

Also watch | Israel war: Biden threatens Israel of weapons & artillery shells supply cut

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WION can verify that while F-15s won't be immediately delivered to Israel due to elaborate apparatus that accompanies a fighter aircraft sale, a sign-off on air-to-air missiles and Joint Direct Attack Munition kits could still play a role in ongoing war as they retrofit unguided bombs with precision guidance. 

What does it mean?

Meeks and Cardin are two of four lawmakers who can effectively veto a foreign military sale. In the case of the F-15 and munitions package, the two top Republicans on the committees — Sen. James E. Risch of Idaho and Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas — had signed off on the sale months ago.

What next?

The State Department can now notify the US Congress of the approved sale.

Once approved, the transaction would be one of the largest arms sales to Israel since the war began. According to the Washington Post report, the weaponry is largely financed by the more than $3.3 billion in US taxpayer funds Washington provides Israel annually.

(With inputs from agencies)