According to a statement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the sales include munitions, guidance kits, fuzes, and related equipment valued at approximately $6.75 billion. Additionally, a separate sale of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and associated equipment, estimated at $660 million, was also approved. The agency has submitted the necessary congressional notifications regarding the transactions.
The DSCA emphasized that the decision aligns with U.S. policy to support Israel’s security, stating that maintaining Israel’s defense capabilities is "vital to U.S. national interests."
The announcement coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C., where he met with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Discussions reportedly included bilateral ties and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The approval follows a policy shift by Trump, who last month reversed a decision by the previous Biden administration to withhold certain munitions from Israel. In May 2024, then-President Joe Biden had paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs over concerns about their use in densely populated areas of Gaza.
The U.S. has faced increasing scrutiny over its military assistance to Israel, particularly as the conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 47,000 people—predominantly women and children—since October 7, 2023. Several U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders, have repeatedly called for an end to American arms transfers, arguing that such support contributes to the ongoing war.
AGM-114 Hellfire missiles
