Biden approves $8b arms deal to Israel amid genocide claims

President Joe Biden’s administration confirmed on Saturday that it would approve an $8 billion arms sale to Israel, days before President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office.

The deal comes despite growing international outrage over Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, where over 45,000 civilians—predominantly women and children—have been killed.

The arms package includes advanced weaponry such as medium-range air-to-air missiles, Hellfire AGM-114 missiles, 500-pound bombs, and 155mm artillery shells for long-range targeting.

Despite mounting pressure from human rights organizations, former State Department officials, and Democratic lawmakers to halt such sales, Biden has remained steadfast in his support for Israel. These groups have pointed to violations of US laws, including the Leahy Law, which prohibits military assistance to foreign units with credible evidence of human rights violations.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), one of the country’s leading Muslim advocacy organizations, condemned the deal as “racist” and “sociopathic.” Meanwhile, accusations of genocide against Israel continue to grow, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes.

The United States remains Israel’s largest weapons supplier, having helped establish one of the world’s most advanced militaries. Between 2019 and 2023, the US provided 69% of Israel’s major conventional arms, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

As Biden moves forward with the arms deal, Trump, who is set to return to the White House, has expressed unwavering support for Israel and dismissed calls for a Palestinian state.