Report: US readying new arms shipment to Israel; embassy says no human rights concerns

The Biden administration is preparing to send bombs and other weapons to Israel that would add to its military arsenal even as the US pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing current and former US officials.

According to the report, the proposed shipment includes around a thousand MK-82 bombs, fuses and JDAM guidance kits to make the munitions more precise, a package estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars.

A US official quoted by the newspaper says the proposal is still undergoing internal administration review and could change before being sent to congressional committee chiefs for approval.

The report also cites an assessment on the proposal by the US Embassy in Jerusalem, which says the Israeli government is seeking “rapid acquisition of these items for the defense of Israel against continued and emerging regional threats.”

It reportedly finds no human rights concerns about the deal: “Israel takes effective action to prevent gross violations of human rights and to hold security forces responsible that violate those rights. In the past, Israel has been a transparent partner in US investigations into allegations of defense article misuse.”