US Arms Sales to Israel Spark Backlash
The US State Department’s approval of billions of dollars worth of new arms sales to Israel has caused serious backlash in the American public. This sale has come to the fore, especially with statements made on social media by Palestinian-origin MP Rashida Tlaib. Tlaib criticized this arms sale by posting on her X account, which read “What the US says and what the US does.”
Many social media users expressed their reactions under the relevant statement of the US State Department, stating that this arms sale supports the Israeli attacks on Gaza. In addition, many journalists emphasized on this issue on their X accounts that the arms support provided by the US administration to Israel does not contribute to peace in the Middle East.
Details of Massive Weapon Sale
The arms sales approved by the US to Israel consist of a total of 5 separate packages. These packages include fighter jets, air-to-air missiles, tank and artillery ammunition, and tactical vehicles. Of these sales, which total $18.9 billion, 50 F-15IA fighter jets and 25 F-15I fighter jet modernization kits constitute the largest share.
In addition, these packages include 30 medium-range air-to-air missile systems (AMRAAM) and more than 32,000 tank shells and other related equipment. In addition, a separate package for the sale of more than 50,000 artillery shells and related equipment has been approved.
| Product | Piece | Value (Billion Dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| F-15IA Fighter Jet | 50 | 18.9 |
| F-15I Modernization Kit | 25 | 18.9 |
| AMRAAM Missile System | 30 | |
| Tank Shell | 32,000+ | |
| Cannonball | 50,000+ |
This package, with a total sales value of $20.3 billion, was approved at a time when the ceasefire process in Gaza remains uncertain and tensions in the region are rising. No steps are expected from the US Congress to prevent these arms sales.
