by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – The Trump administration is moving ahead with a massive arms package for Israel, requesting congressional approval to sell nearly $6 billion in U.S.-made weapons despite international outcry over Israel’s widening war in Gaza and a controversial strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar.
According to documents reviewed by the Wall Street Journal and officials familiar with the matter, the proposed deal includes a $3.8 billion sale of 30 AH-64 Apache helicopters—nearly doubling Israel’s current fleet—and $1.9 billion for 3,250 infantry assault vehicles for the Israeli army. Another $750 million in spare parts for armored personnel carriers and power systems is also under consideration.
The weapons would be financed through U.S. foreign military funding, meaning American taxpayer dollars would cover much of the cost. Deliveries would not take place for two to three years.
The request has been sent to the top Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Their approval is required before the administration can notify Congress and the public of the deal.
The proposal was first circulated about a month ago, before Israel’s September 9 strike on Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar—a U.S. Gulf ally that hosts the largest American military presence in the Middle East. That attack drew condemnation from Arab partners and European governments as a violation of sovereignty, and even unsettled President Donald Trump, who later hosted Qatar’s prime minister for dinner to smooth tensions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem this week, reaffirmed Washington’s backing. “At the end of the day… the objective remains the same: all 48 of those hostages, both living and deceased, need to be home,” Rubio said, while also insisting Hamas must “cease to exist as an armed element that can threaten the peace and security of the region.”
Israel is currently pressing a ground offensive in Gaza City, expanding operations against Hamas. Aid agencies and European leaders have condemned the campaign, citing catastrophic humanitarian conditions, while a U.N. committee this week accused Israel of genocide—an allegation it strongly denies.
Since taking office, Trump has expanded weapons transfers to Israel, including the emergency release of 2,000-pound bombs earlier this year. The Biden administration had previously held back such shipments amid disagreements over Israel’s war plans.
The proposed package comes as more Democrats in Congress push to curb military aid to Israel, with some calling for U.S. recognition of a Palestinian state. Still, pro-Israel groups such as AIPAC welcomed the Trump administration’s move. “We applaud the administration for ensuring Israel has the resources it needs to win,” the lobby said in a statement, noting recent Senate votes rejecting attempts to block aid.
If approved, the deal would bring U.S. military support for Israel to more than $12 billion so far this year, underscoring the administration’s determination to bolster its closest Middle Eastern ally despite mounting global criticism.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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