While international negotiations attempt to maintain the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the United States has authorized one of the largest arms sales to Tel Aviv in recent years. The U.S. administration approved a supply worth about 3 billion dollars without going through the usual Congressional review, ensuring the Middle Eastern ally a new arsenal of explosives, armored vehicles, and ammunition.
According to the State Department’s announcement, the package includes over 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs, 4,000 Predator warheads, as well as Caterpillar D9 bulldozers, machines often used by the Israeli military for operations in the occupied territories, with an estimated cost of 295 million dollars. Delivery of this heavy military equipment is expected to start in 2027.
The Defense Security Cooperation, also confirmed another significant transfer: a batch of ammunition worth around 675 million dollars, to be produced by U.S. companies such as Repkon USA and Boeing and sent to the “Jewish state” starting in 2028.
These supplies arrive at a delicate moment: the first phase of the cessation of hostilities, which temporarily halted 15 months of war, is about to end. In recent days, mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have been working to extend the peace, while tensions between the two sides remain high due to mutual accusations of breaching the agreements.
According to the terms of the treaty initiated in January, Hamas is expected to release the last 59 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. So far, the group has released 33 detainees (both alive and dead) in exchange for more than 1,700 Palestinian soldiers.
The new arms deal is part of an ongoing exchange between Washington and Tel Aviv. Over the past five years, the United States has authorized military exports to Israel totaling over 15 billion dollars, making the country one of the largest recipients of U.S. military aid globally.
