Exclusive: Biden administration urges Congress to approve tanks for Israel’s Gaza war -sources

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (Reuters) – The Biden administration has asked Congress to approve the sale of 45,000 Merkava tanks to Israel for use in its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, according to four sources. familiar with the matter, including a US official and a former US official.

The request is being made even as concerns grow about the use of US weapons in a war that has killed thousands of civilians in the Palestinian enclave since Israel responded with an attack on October 7 by Hamas militants.

The proposed purchase, of more than $500 million, is not part of President Joe Biden’s additional $110.5 billion proposal that includes funding for Ukraine and Israel. It is under informal review by the Senate Foreign Relations and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, where members may have the opportunity to block the purchase, or hold informal discussions with the administration about to concerns.

The US State Department is pushing congressional committees to quickly approve the deal, said a US official and Josh Paul, a former State Department official, in the amid protests from rights advocates over the use of US weapons in the conflict.

“This matter went to the committees earlier this week and they should have 20 days to consider the issues of Israel. The State (Ministry) is urging them to clear it now,” said a Paul, who resigned in October from the State Department in protest of what he said. The administration’s “blind support” for Israel.

The administration is also considering using the Arms Export Control Act emergency measure to allow a portion of the ammunition, 13,000 of the 45,000 rounds, to pass through the committee and during review, said two U.S. officials. , although no final decision has been made. The move allows Israel to prepare for emergencies due to the high level of tensions in the region, said one of the US officials.

A spokesperson for the State Department said that as a matter of policy, “we do not confirm or disclose information on security transfers or sales until they have been formally notified to Congress.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat on the chamber’s foreign relations committee, said the council’s view is an important step for major arms sales.

“The administration should not think that the time frame for congressional review of this or any other arms transfer is too short,” he said.

Online photos of the war show that Israel regularly deploys Merkava tanks in its attack on Gaza and on its southern border with Lebanon, where fighting has been going on since October 7.

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These men are also linked to incidents that have resulted in the deaths of journalists.

On Thursday, a Reuters investigation revealed that an Israeli tank killed Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah and wounded six other journalists with rapid fire. two from Israel while the journalists were filming the shooting on the border.

Israel has sharply increased attacks on the Gaza Strip since a seven-day ceasefire ended last week, striking the long-held Palestinian enclave and killing hundreds in a new, widening war. which Washington said has deviated from Israel’s promises to do so. better to protect the public.

According to the Ministry of Health of Gaza, the number of dead from the Israeli war in Gaza has reached 17,487.

As the war escalates, how and where exactly America’s weapons are being used in the conflict has come under greater scrutiny, although US officials have said there are no plans to provide specifics. military aid to Israel or consider withholding some.

Rights advocates expressed concern over the sale, saying it was inconsistent with Washington’s efforts to pressure Israel to reduce civilian casualties.

“By continuing to provide Israel with weapons and international propaganda while it carries out atrocities, including the collective punishment of the Palestinian population in Gaza, the US may be complicit in war crimes. ,” said Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch.

The United States on Friday also vetoed the request of the United Nations Council for the immediate suspension of humanitarian work, a move that isolated Washington while protecting its partner.

Earlier this week, Amnesty International said that US-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) were used by the Israeli military in two attacks on civilian buildings, the it was the first time a rights group had directly linked US weapons to an attack that killed civilians. .

Israel says it provides information about safe areas for civilians and how to get to them, and says Hamas is accused of harming civilians because it operates in them. an accusation denied by the Islamist group.

Israel launched what it said was an attempt to destroy Hamas after the Islamist group attacked Israeli cities in a surprise border attack on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 240 people were arrested.

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