U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expedited $4 billion in military aid to Israel, utilizing emergency authority amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict which has led to significant casualties on both sides. The Trump administration has previously approved nearly $12 billion in military sales to Israel, underscoring its commitment to Israeli security.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the expedited delivery of about $4 billion in military aid to Israel. This aid is part of a broader commitment, with the Trump administration having approved nearly $12 billion in major foreign military sales to Israel since taking office. Rubio emphasized that the administration would utilize all available measures to ensure Israel’s security amid ongoing threats.
Emergency authority was invoked by Rubio to facilitate the expedited assistance that arrives during a precarious ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The conflict, ignited by a Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, primarily civilians, and the capture of about 250 hostages. The subsequent Israeli military actions have reportedly claimed the lives of over 48,000 Palestinians, with a significant proportion being women and children.
The Pentagon revealed on Friday that the State Department sanctioned the potential sale of nearly $3 billion worth of various military ordnance to Israel. This action was classified as an emergency, circumventing the customary congressional review process, which typically allows for an inquiry from the heads of key foreign affairs committees. This decision marks the second occurrence in recent weeks where the current administration has employed emergency means to rapidly approve arms sales to Israel.
Moreover, the Trump administration rescinded a previous order from the Biden administration that mandated reporting potential violations of international law concerning U.S.-supplied weaponry among allies, including Israel. The administration also discontinued most U.S. humanitarian foreign aid initiatives in this context. The ceasefire agreement reached on January 19 between Israel and Hamas had temporarily halted 15 months of conflict and facilitated negotiations concerning a resolution, resulting in the release of 33 Israeli hostages and approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
As the initial phase of the ceasefire approached its end, Israel announced plans to accept a temporary ceasefire proposal by Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, during the Ramadan and Passover periods. Nonetheless, Israel and Hamas have accused one another of breaches of the ceasefire, raising concerns about the second phase of the agreement that aims to ensure the release of additional hostages and prisoners along with sustainable measures for ending the conflict.
In summary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has authorized the expedited delivery of $4 billion in military aid to Israel amidst ongoing conflict with Hamas. Emergency powers were employed to facilitate this assistance, reflecting a strong commitment to Israel’s security. There are significant implications, including bypassing standard congressional review processes and addressing the humanitarian impact of ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
