US State Dept advances $1.35b arms sale to Israel

Move comes amid halt in shipment of bombs, illustrating the narrow path Biden administration is trying to walk with long-time ally

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The Biden administration has told the US Congress that it intends to move forward with a plan for the United States to sell more than US$1 billion (S$1.35 billion) in new weapons to Israel, according to three congressional aides familiar with the deal.

The notification of the sale, which would include new tactical vehicles and ammunition, comes as President Joe Biden has withheld a shipment of bombs to Israel, hoping to prevent US-made weapons from being used in a potential invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Last week, Mr Biden said he would block the delivery of weapons such as bombs and missiles that could be fired into the densely populated area where more than one million Palestinians are sheltering.