The US State Department has authorised a potential $7.41 billion foreign military sale to Israel, the Pentagon announced on Friday.
The approval covers the sale of munitions, guidance kits, fuzes, and munitions support, along with related equipment, for an estimated cost of $6.75 billion, according to a statement from the Defence Security Cooperation Agency.
Additionally, the department has given the green light for the possible sale of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and related equipment for an estimated $660 million. The agency issued the required certification to notify Congress about these potential sales on Friday.
The announcement coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, DC, where he met US President Donald Trump to discuss bilateral relations and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Last month, President Trump announced that he had lifted a hold placed by the Biden administration on the delivery of bombs to Israel. In May, former President Biden had suspended a shipment of bombs, including 2,000-pound munitions, over concerns about their potential use in densely populated areas of Gaza.
The US has faced ongoing criticism for its support of Israel in the Gaza conflict, which has led to the deaths of over 47,000 people, primarily women and children, since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023. Several US lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders, have repeatedly called for the cessation of US arms supplies to Israel, condemning the country’s role in the Gaza conflict.
