US sent more than 50,000 tons of military equipment to Israel during Gaza war : Ministry

Ahram Online , Monday 26 Aug 2024

Israel's Defense Ministry announced Monday that the United States has delivered more than 50,000 tons of armaments and military equipment to Israel since the start of the war on Gaza.

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File photo- A wounded Palestinian is transported into the Nasser hospital following Israeli bombardment on Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

 

The US military equipment has been delivered by five hundred transport planes and 107 ships, Israeli Defense Ministry said.

It added that the 500th aircraft in the joint airlift weapons and equipment operation from the US recently landed in Israel, as reported by Jpost.

The equipment delivered since the beginning of the war includes “armored vehicles, munitions, ammunition, personal protection gear, and medical equipment,” according to the ministry.

Early this August, the U.S. has approved $20 billion in arms sales to Israel, including scores of fighter jets and advanced air-to-air missiles, the State Department announced.

Congress was notified of the impending sale, which includes more than 50 F-15 fighter jets, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, or AMRAAMs, 120 mm tank ammunition and high explosive mortars and tactical vehicles and comes at a time of intense concern that Israel may become involved in a wider Middle East war.

“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives,” the State Department said in a release on the sale.

Last July, US officials revealed that Joe Biden's administration will allow a shipment of 500-pound bombs to be sent to Israel, after it was paused in May.

The initial decision to halt a shipment of both 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs was due to US concerns about Israel using the heavy munitions – specifically the larger 2,000-pound bombs – in its assault on Rafah southern Gaza.

Even during the time period that this shipment was frozen, very large quantities of US military supplies continued to flow to Israe, Jpost said.

 

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