Israel says it secured $8.7 billion military aid package from US

Israel announced Thursday that it had reached agreement with the U.S. for an $8.7 billion aid package to support ongoing military efforts. 

The funding for the package was appropriated by Congress in the national security supplemental that the president signed into law in April. The total supplemental included $26.38 billion to support Israel and reimburse U.S. operations in response to recent attacks.

The package announced Thursday includes $3.5 billion for wartime procurement and $5.2 billion designated for air defense systems, including the Iron Dome, its short-range missile interceptor; and David’s Sling, which can take out ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, long-range missiles and other aerial threats. 

“These efforts aim to maintain Israel’s qualitative edge in the region and support ongoing military operations,” Israel’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement. 

The talks were conducted on the U.S. side by acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William LaPlante. 

The Pentagon said in a statement that Dory reinforced the Biden administration’s enduring support for Israel’s security and discussed “the importance of pursuing diplomatic solutions essential for lasting security.”

“The leaders exchanged views on Israel’s ongoing operations against Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, the need to release all hostages in Gaza immediately, and the imperative to minimize harm to civilians in conflict zones.”

The announcement comes as Israel has fought on two major fronts for nearly a year —against Hezbollah on its northern border with Lebanon and against Hamas in the Gaza Strip — following Hamas’s Oct. 7 terrorist attack against Israel and its holding of an estimated 100 hostages kidnapped from Israel.

President Biden and Vice President Harris have pushed back on calls from some Democrats and progressives to condition aid for Israel to influence their military action because of the humanitarian toll and civilian casualties among Palestinians and Lebanese. 

The administration has focused on pushing for temporary cease-fires on both fronts to calm tensions. Israel or Hamas has rebuffed these proposals since November.

This story was updated at 5:43 p.m.