Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Apr 4: The Trump administration has advanced a $24 million sale of over 20,000 US-made assault rifles to Israel, a deal previously delayed by the Biden administration over concerns they could be used by extremist Israeli settlers.

The US State Department informed Congress on March 6 that the rifles were designated for the Israeli National Police. Despite objections from Democratic lawmakers, Trump reversed Biden-era restrictions on arms sales to Israel, further solidifying support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

The US Senate recently blocked efforts to halt an $8.8 billion arms package to Israel, rejecting resolutions led by Senator Bernie Sanders that sought to prevent the transfer of large-scale bombs and offensive military equipment.

Violence in the West Bank has intensified since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. In response, Israel launched military operations in Gaza, where health officials report over 50,000 Palestinian casualties.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right leader overseeing the police, has prioritized arming civilian security squads amid ongoing tensions. Concerns remain over how these newly approved weapons will be used in the escalating conflict.