U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Saturday that he had signed a declaration to fast-track the delivery of $4 billion in military assistance to Israel. The move comes as Israel remains in a tense ceasefire with Hamas militants in Gaza.
The Trump administration, which took office on January 20, has approved nearly $12 billion in foreign military sales to Israel. Rubio stated that the U.S. remains committed to Israel’s security and will continue using all available tools to counter regional threats.
The Pentagon confirmed on Friday that the State Department approved an emergency sale of $3 billion worth of bombs, demolition kits, and other weapons to Israel. Bypassing standard congressional review, the administration used emergency authority to speed up the process, following a similar move by the Biden administration.
In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration on Monday revoked a Biden-era rule requiring reports on potential international law violations involving U.S.-supplied weapons. Additionally, the administration has cut most U.S. humanitarian aid.
The ceasefire agreement on January 19 ended 15 months of conflict, leading to the release of 44 Israeli hostages and around 2,000 Palestinian detainees. However, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violations, casting doubt over the next phase of the deal, which includes further prisoner exchanges and steps toward a long-term resolution.
Early Sunday, Israel announced it had accepted a temporary ceasefire proposal for Ramadan and Passover, put forth by Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff. With tensions high and peace uncertain, the rapid U.S. arms deliveries reflect ongoing geopolitical maneuvering in the region.