Is US arms pipeline to Israel being kept under wraps? Lawmakers want answers

Amid the debate over the U.S. military aid to Ukraine, officials have disclosed a more covert operation funneling arms to its Middle East ally, Israel. The United States has significantly bolstered its military support for Israel, delivering at least 23,000 precision-guided munitions among other weaponry through more than 100 separate transfers, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Of these arms transfers, the Biden administration has formally notified Congress of only two, invoking an emergency rule to bypass the standard legislative review process.

The bulk of these transfers have been facilitated through less conspicuous means, including utilizing U.S. stockpiles, expediting previously approved deliveries, and sending smaller batches of arms that fall below the threshold necessitating Congressional notification.

This approach starkly contrasts with the U.S. Department of Defense’s transparent handling of military assistance to Ukraine, where comprehensive details on arms supplies and total aid are regularly made public.

The discrepancy in transparency has drawn criticism, particularly from Democratic lawmakers who are pressuring the administration to leverage U.S. military aid to Israel to promote better humanitarian aid access to Gaza.

State Department officials have revealed that there are 600 active potential military sales or transfers to Israel, valued at over $23 billion. The administration’s reluctance to use its influence to advocate for the delivery of essential supplies to Gaza’s civilians has frustrated senators, who are calling for conditional military assistance.

In light of discussions about employing legislative measures like the Arms Export Control Act to possibly suspend further weapons sales if Israel does not address humanitarian conditions in Gaza, President Joe Biden has announced a plan to build a temporary port off Gaza’s coast.

This initiative is designed to facilitate the direct delivery of humanitarian aid to the region, addressing the critical shortages of food, water, and medicine. The ongoing conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.