Biden administration asks Congress to approve sale of shells for Israeli tanks

(Patria) - The Biden administration has asked Congress to approve the sale of 45,000 shells for Israeli Merkava tanks for use in the offensive against Hamas in Gaza, Reuters reported.

The potential sale, worth more than $500 million, is not part of President Joe Biden's additional $110.5 billion request that includes funding for Ukraine and Israel.

It is under informal review by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which allows members the privilege to delay sales, or have informal discussions with the administration about concerns.

However, the U.S. State Department is pushing congressional committees to quickly approve the transaction, said a U.S. official and Josh Paul, a former State Department spokesperson, amid objections from rights advocates over the use of U.S.-made weapons in the conflict.

“This went to the committees earlier this week and they are supposed to have twenty days to consider Israel cases. The State Department is now pushing them to decide,” Paul told Reuters.

A State Department spokesperson said the issue was policy: “we do not confirm or comment on proposed defense sector transfers or sales until they are officially notified to Congress.”