President Donald Trump's administration has submitted a formal request for approval of a new arms package for Israel worth $6.4 billion, at a time when fighting in the Gaza Strip is intensifying significantly.
According to sources close to the process, the deal includes supplying Israel with 30 Apache attack helicopters and 3,250 armored infantry vehicles, which aim to strengthen the Israeli army's defensive and offensive capabilities on the ground.
The move by the Trump administration comes just days before world leaders gather at the UN headquarters in New York for the UN General Assembly. A high-level Security Council meeting is also expected to be held this week, focused on the escalating situation in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has announced an expansion of its operations in Gaza City, with targeted strikes against Hamas infrastructure, including underground tunnels and weapons depots. Israeli military spokesmen have said the operations are part of a "new phase" of the war against the Palestinian militant group.
The new arms package is expected to spark debate in Congress, particularly among Democratic lawmakers who have expressed concerns about the impact of US military aid on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
However, supporters of the agreement argue that it is a guarantee for the "security of America's closest ally in the Middle East," especially in a period of regional instability.
With a vote in Congress not expected to take place in the coming weeks, it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will manage to secure the necessary support at a time when diplomatic and military tensions are rising.
