Despite the U.S. and Israeli governments’ growing rift over the Gaza war, the Biden administration continues to authorize major weapons transfers.

The Biden administration in recent days quietly authorized the transfer of billions of dollars in bombs and fighter jets to Israel despite Washington’s concerns about an anticipated military offensive in southern Gaza that could threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians.

The new arms packages include more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, according to Pentagon and State Department officials familiar with the matter. The 2,000 pound bombs have been linked to previous mass-casualty events throughout Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. These officials, like some others, spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity because recent authorizations have not been disclosed publicly.

The 2,000 pound bombs, capable of leveling city blocks and leaving craters in the earth 40 feet across and larger, are almost never used anymore by Western militaries in densely populated locations due to the risk of civilian casualties.

archive link to the article

  • Mongostein@lemmy.ca
    21·
    8 months ago

    How do these transfers actually work? Does anyone actually know? There’s no way it’s just “Israel asks, Biden delivers next week.”

    • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
      101·
      8 months ago

      The 100 secret arms transfers from Biden to israel went rather quickly. Almost one shipment per day.

      For this new order israel is probably going to get the bombs and planes over a few shipments, but they will be sure not to run out. Seeing the speed of the last few shipments israel might already start seeing the first bombs next week.

      • Mongostein@lemmy.ca
        14·
        8 months ago

        Ok, so your link goes nowhere and that didn’t answer my question.

        Canada didn’t stop sending arms to Saudi Arabia when that whole thing came up a couple years ago because of a contract put in place by a different government 15 years prior.

        I’m asking what the process is. America was sending weapons to Israel looooooooooong before Biden, so saying Biden instead of America sure makes it seem like you have an agenda. There’s gotta be records for these sort of transactions.