IRIA News

The United States Congress approved the transfer of billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel while the State Department is set to finalize the approval. This decision comes despite publicly voiced concerns about the potential Israeli invasion of Gaza’s Rafah and the increasing number of civilian casualties in the region.

The package has been unveiled at a time when Israel is encountering significant international criticism for its ongoing bombing campaign and ground offensive in Gaza. Additionally, certain members of Joe Biden’s party are urging him to reduce U.S. military assistance. The United States has approved the delivery of air defenses and munitions to Israel.

According to officials from the Pentagon and the Department of State, as reported by The Washington Post on March 29, 2024, the latest arms package consists of over 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs. Washington gives $3.8 billion in annual military assistance to Israel.

The Biden administration’s unwavering backing of Israel has drawn internal criticism from some Democrats and Arab American organizations, who argue that it fosters a sense of impunity. Earlier this week, Biden acknowledged the distress felt by many Arab Americans regarding the conflict in Gaza and the U.S.’s support for Israel and its military actions.

The anticipated delivery of the bombs is set for the upcoming months. The delivery will constitute a continual supply of armaments and military gear that the U.S. has been furnishing Israel with since the commencement of the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The U.S. has also ramped up the preparation to deliver Israel’s remaining F-35 Fighter Jets in the coming months. Out of Israel’s initial request for 50 F-35s, 36 have been delivered so far.

The U.S. Senate has recently approved a $1.2 trillion funding package, reaching a last-minute agreement, and averting a potential partial government shutdown. This comprehensive package, ensuring full government funding until September, concludes a lengthy battle over expenditure that had lingered for six months into the fiscal year. The legislation was approved by a vote of 74 to 24, and will now be sent to the president to be signed into law.

US halts funding for UNRWA

Just 48 hours before the U.S. abstained from voting resulting in a United Nations Security Council ceasefire resolution pass, President Joe Biden enacted a budget package that permanently eliminated all funding for UNRWA, the organization tasked with distributing the majority of food, water, and shelter aid in Gaza.

The legislation signed by Biden was a bipartisan funding agreement designed to prevent a U.S. government shutdown last week. Republicans included the provision to prohibit funding for UNRWA. Apart from a handful of progressive lawmakers, most Democrats, and the White House, endorsed the bill without hesitation. Biden promptly signed the agreement as soon as it landed on his desk.

According to the UN release, UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Lazzarini said, “There will be widespread consequences for Palestine refugees in Gaza and the region” following the newly passed U.S. foreign aid spending bill for 2024. Lazzarini highlighted that “Palestine refugees are counting on the international community to increase its support to meet their basic needs”.

UNRWA is the largest organization with the highest reach to displaced communities in Gaza. It supports about 5.9 million Palestinian refugees in its five areas of operations: Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

Relying heavily on U.S. funding, UNRWA, the United Nations Relief Works Agency, received $343 million from Washington in 2022. With Israel effectively blocking nearly all entry points into Gaza, analysts anticipate that the actions taken by the United States will exacerbate the situation on the ground in Gaza.