The United States has approved another $20 billion in weapons transfers to Israel as tensions in the region rise due to ongoing conflicts in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Despite concerns about Israeli forces violating international law, the State Department has defended the decision, citing the importance of Israel’s self-defense capabilities.
Israel is currently preparing for anticipated retaliatory strikes from Iran and Hezbollah following the recent assassinations of high-ranking Hamas and Hezbollah officials. President Joe Biden has expressed a desire to avoid further escalation and has called for a ceasefire in Gaza to prevent Iranian retaliation.
Critics have condemned the US for continuing to arm Israel, accusing the Biden administration of being complicit in the destruction in Gaza and failing to use weapons transfers as leverage to secure a ceasefire agreement. Reports of Israeli forces committing violations of international law, including torture, have not halted the flow of weapons despite US laws requiring military units accused of human rights abuses to be cut off from support.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield has emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages to de-escalate tensions in the region. The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East remain a top priority for the United States as they work towards achieving peace and stability in the region.
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