**US Approves $8bn Arms Sale to Israel**
The US Department of State has informed Congress about a planned arms sale to Israel worth $8 billion. This deal includes air-to-air missiles that will help combat airborne threats, such as drones.
The sale needs approval from the House and Senate committees before it can go through. Washington has rejected calls to cut off military support to Israel due to civilian casualties in the Gaza war.
This is not the first big arms sale to Israel by the US. In August, a $20 billion deal for fighter jets and military equipment was approved. The US official said that President Joe Biden believes Israel has the right to defend itself against threats from Iran and its allies.
The US is Israel’s largest supplier of arms, and it has helped build one of the world’s most advanced militaries. According to a study, 69% of Israel’s major weapons imports between 2019 and 2023 came from the US.
Israel launched a campaign against Hamas in response to an attack that killed over 1,200 people and took many hostage. Since then, more than 45,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
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