US to Expedite $4 Billion in Military Aid to Israel, Secretary of State Says, Amid Fragile Gaza Ceasefire

Washington (Quds News Network)- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Saturday that he had signed a declaration to expedite the delivery of nearly $4 billion in military assistance to Israel, as Israel threatens to resume war in Gaza.

Rubio said in a statement that the Trump administration, which took office on January 20, has approved nearly $12 billion in major foreign military sales to Israel, adding that it “will continue to use all available tools to fulfill America’s long-standing commitment to Israel’s security, including means to counter security threats.”

Rubio said he had used emergency authority to expedite the delivery of military assistance to Israel، adding the administration was busting a “partial arms embargo” on Israel imposed by former president Joe Biden.

“This important decision coincides with President Trump’s repeal of a Biden-era memorandum which had imposed baseless and politicized conditions on military assistance to Israel,” said Rubio, referring to Trump’s rescinding last week of National Security Memorandum 20, known as NSM-20.

The memo had mandated that countries receiving US arms provide written assurances they would not use them in ways that breach humanitarian law. It also required them to facilitate US-backed humanitarian aid, with the risk of arms supplies being suspended for noncompliance.

The policy was introduced during Biden’s presidency amid concerns over Israel’s genocide in Gaza. However, it failed to stop Israel from violating international law.

State Department officials told the two congressional committees in the House and Senate that review foreign weapons sales about the emergency declaration on Friday. At least one congressional official privately expressed alarm at the bypassing of the review, The New York Times reported.

Several of the cases of munitions to be sent to Israel were undergoing review in Congress. But one large case worth about $2 billion had not been sent by the State Department to Congress for review, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly about sensitive weapons deals.

The Pentagon announced details of that sale to Israel on Friday. The announcement lists several possible mixes of bombs that would be delivered, including more than 35,000 2,000-pound bombs.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump for sending munitions held up by the previous administration.

“Donald Trump is the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House,” Netanyahu said in a video statement in English.

He added: “He’s shown it by sending us all the munitions that were being held up. This way he is giving Israel the tools we need to finish the job against Iran’s terror axis.

This is the second time in a month that the Trump administration has skirted the process of congressional approval and declared an emergency for sending arms to Israel.

In early February, the State Department bypassed the congressional informal review process to announce that it was sending $8 billion in arms to Israel that the Biden administration had approved.

Israel Violates Ceasefire

Israel has imposed a block on all aid entering Gaza following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire deal. Netanyahu’s office issued a statement on Sunday morning confirming that Israel had blocked the entry of all goods into Gaza.

The move, which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, came after Hamas refused to accept the extension of the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

Israel said that it had accepted a last-minute proposal put on the table by the US president’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire over Ramadan and Passover.

According to Israel, the proposal also outlined the release of all captives still in Gaza in two stages, with the second stage contingent on negotiating a permanent ceasefire.

“With the end of phase one of the hostage deal, and in light of Hamas’ refusal to accept the [US envoy Steve] Witkoff outline for continuing the talks – to which Israel agreed, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that starting this morning all entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip will cease,” the statement said.

“Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas continues its refusal, there will be further consequences.”

Hamas refused to extend it, noting it would only accept moving to the second stage, which was supposed to guarantee the definitive end of the assault, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of remaining captives.

Hamas also slammed Israel’s decision to block the entry of aid and adopt the US proposal. In a statement, the movement said this “is a blatant attempt to renege on the agreement and evade negotiations for its second phase.”

“Netanyahu’s decision to block the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza is a cheap blackmail and a war crime in an appalling violation of the ceasefire deal. Mediators and the international community must act to place pressure on the occupation and put an end to its punitive and immoral measures against more than two million people in the Gaza Strip.”

Hamas stated that Israel has continued to violate the ceasefire, which has resulted in the killing of over 100 martyrs in Gaza and the disruption of the humanitarian protocol. This includes blocking the entry of sheltering and relief aid, further aggravating the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, Israel has committed around 962 violations of the ceasefire agreement, including the cold-blooded killing of 100 citizens and the injury of 490 others across various areas.