The U.S. government has moved forward with a long-delayed sale of more than 20,000 assault rifles to Israel, after former President Joe Biden had put the deal on hold over concerns that the weapons could be used by extremist settlers in the occupied West Bank, sources told Reuters.
The State Department formally notified Congress of the $24 million transaction on March 6, stating that the Israeli National Police would be the end user. The deal is relatively small compared to the billions of dollars in U.S. military aid to Israel but drew attention due to concerns about settler violence.
The Biden administration had previously delayed the sale amid reports that Israeli settlers were using U.S. weapons in attacks on Palestinians. Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Israeli settlers—issued on his first day in office—paved the way for the rifle sale and other arms deals with Israel.
Despite Democratic lawmakers seeking more information on the intended use of the weapons, Congress ultimately cleared the sale. However, the Biden administration had kept it on hold. The Trump administration has since pushed forward with multiple arms shipments, reinforcing its strong support for Israel in its ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.
Trump has maintained close ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has backed Israel’s military campaign despite international criticism. On Thursday, the U.S. Senate rejected efforts to block an $8.8 billion arms deal with Israel, voting overwhelmingly against restrictions on bomb and weapons sales.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right member of Netanyahu’s cabinet, oversees the Israeli police force. His ministry has prioritized arming civilian security squads since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.