Biden Approves $680M Arms Sale to Israel

The Biden administration has provisionally approved a $680 million arms sale to Israel, comprising joint direct attack munition kits and small-diameter bombs, amidst ongoing Middle East tensions. This decision follows a recent U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, while hostilities with Hamas in Gaza continue. Human rights advocates, including Amnesty International, criticize the sale, citing past uses of such munitions in attacks on civilians. The arms deal, in process for months, highlights a contradiction in U.S. policy, as Biden simultaneously pushes for peace efforts in the region. Previous attempts by some U.S. senators, led by Bernie Sanders, to block arms sales to Israel due to humanitarian concerns were unsuccessful. The Biden administration's continued military support for Israel underscores its longstanding alliance despite international and domestic opposition.