The U.S has set out to bolster the war efforts of Israel.
An emergency funding bill released by U.S senators on Sunday includes $14.1bn in military aid to Israel out of an overall $118.3bn of funding for national security and foreign aid.
The bill which still needs to pass the Republican-controlled Senate, includes $4bn for Israel’s “Iron Dome and David’s Sling defense systems to counter short-range rocket threats,” $1.2bn for the “Iron Beam defense system to counter short-range rocket threats” and $3.5bn “in foreign military financing to help Israel reestablish territorial security and deterrence.”
The bill also provides $2.44bn for US operations in the Red Sea.
US President Joe Biden has urged Congress to “swiftly pass” the deal and “get it to my desk so I can sign it into law immediately.”
The US Senate bill, which will provide $14.1bn in military funding to Israel, includes funding for humanitarian assistance to Gaza and the West Bank but it is unclear how much.
According to a summary of the bill, the funding for Gaza and the West Bank is included in a larger pot of $9.2bn for “global humanitarian assistance”, which will also go to “Ukraine … East Africa, South Asia, and elsewhere.”
The funding, through the U.S Department of State and USAID will provide “emergency food, shelter, and basic services to populations suffering the impacts of a confluence of complex and protracted crises.”
The bill also includes provisions for the “oversight” of funds to be provided to Gaza as the US continues to withhold funding from the UN Agency for Palestinian refugees over allegations, made by Israel, against a small number of UNRWA staff members.
U.S lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for the UNRWA funding to be restored.
The bill announced on Sunday would provide $60bn in aid to Ukraine, whose efforts to push back Russia’s invasion have been hampered by a halt in US shipments of ammunition and missiles.
U.S President Joe Biden and leaders in the Senate have been pushing to resupply Ukraine with wartime aid but have faced resistance from conservative Republicans who have insisted on measures to tackle illegal immigration at the border with Mexico.
Despite the backing of top Democrats, the bill faces uncertain prospects in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a majority.
Fewer Than 3 In 10 Approve Biden’s Handling Of Israel-Hamas War
According to new polling data published by a U.S news agency, US President Joe Biden’s approval ratings continue to drop ahead of the country’s presidential election in November, hitting a record low of 37 per cent.
One major issue among US voters is Israel’s war on Gaza, with fewer than three in 10 approving of Biden’s handling of the conflict, according to the polling.
Further still, only 15 percent of voters under 35 approved of his approach, while 70 percent disapproved.
In a hypothetical election, the data showed that former President Donald Trump would receive 47 percent of the vote, while Biden would receive 42 percent.
Meanwhile, Israel’s strikes on Gaza has persisted despite the recent ICJ ruling.
The UN humanitarian agency, OCHA said in its daily update that at least 234 Palestinians were killed and 343 were injured in Gaza between the afternoons of February 2 and 4, 2024.
Citing statistics from Gaza’s Ministry of Health, it said that 107 people were killed on February 3, while 127 people were killed on February 4, 2024.
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