In a move that has drawn both fierce support and widespread condemnation, the Trump administration has formally requested congressional approval for a massive arms sale to Israel, totaling nearly $6 billion. The proposed package, which would rank among the largest military transactions between the two countries in recent years, comes at a time of heightened international scrutiny over Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and persistent calls for a ceasefire.
According to The Wall Street Journal and corroborated by several major outlets including AP, Defense News, and Globes, the deal includes $3.8 billion for 30 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters—enough to nearly double Israel’s current fleet—and $1.9 billion for 3,250 infantry assault vehicles. An additional $750 million in support parts for armored personnel carriers and power supplies is also working its way through the approval process, sources told Reuters. The arms would be delivered over the next two to three years, or possibly longer, with funding expected to come primarily from longstanding US military aid to Israel, as reported by Globes.
The timing of the request is notable: the Trump administration passed the deal onto congressional leaders about a month prior to Israel’s controversial strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar. That operation, which resulted in the assassination of senior Hamas officials, drew sharp condemnation from several US allies in the Middle East and Europe, who viewed it as an assault on Qatari sovereignty. The arms sale proposal was first submitted to congressional leaders on September 9, 2025, according to Cairo24.
Despite the diplomatic turbulence, the US has remained steadfast in its support for Israel. The State Department and Israel’s Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the specifics of the deal when approached by The Wall Street Journal, while the White House has also remained silent on the matter. Nevertheless, the administration is reportedly working to secure bipartisan backing from senior lawmakers on the House and Senate foreign affairs committees before presenting the deal more broadly to Congress, as detailed by Cairo24.
The proposed sale comes amid a backdrop of mounting international criticism. A recent United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza—a charge Israel vehemently denies. Since the war began in October 2023, more than 65,000 people have been killed, according to UN estimates, and the majority of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents have been displaced. Much of the enclave has been reduced to rubble, and a severe humanitarian crisis has unfolded, with famine gripping large swaths of the territory.
Yet, the United States has continued to shield Israel diplomatically. On Thursday, the US cast its sixth veto in the UN Security Council, blocking a resolution that called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unrestricted humanitarian aid access, and the release of captives. This move, reported by Cairo24, underscores Washington’s commitment to its ally even as global calls for restraint grow louder.
In Congress, the arms deal has become a flashpoint for deepening partisan divides. While the Trump administration’s backing for Israel remains unflinching, a growing number of Senate Democrats have attempted to block the sale of offensive weapons to Israel. On September 18, 2025, a group of US senators introduced the first Senate resolution urging recognition of a Palestinian state, and more than half of Senate Democrats recently voted against further arms sales to Israel, according to Reuters. The administration, however, has not shifted its position, maintaining that such support is crucial for Israel’s security and for bringing the Gaza conflict to an end—a stance echoed in Defense News coverage.
The proposed arms package is not an isolated gesture. Earlier in 2025, the Trump administration approved an additional $12 billion in security assistance to Israel, including bomb guidance kits valued at approximately half a million dollars, as reported by Defense News. These moves, supporters argue, demonstrate a consistent US commitment to Israel’s security amid an increasingly volatile regional landscape.
International reactions, however, have been pointed and, in some cases, punitive. The United Kingdom, which last year suspended exports of some weapons to Israel over concerns about violations of international humanitarian law, recently barred Israeli government officials from attending the country’s largest arms fair. Turkey announced it was closing its airspace to Israeli government planes and any cargo of arms destined for the Israeli military. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in a speech reported by AP, condemned Israeli attacks on Gaza as disproportionate, adding her voice to a chorus of European criticism.
Meanwhile, President Trump has indicated he will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington next week. The agenda is expected to include discussions on the purchase of Boeing civilian aircraft and a separate deal for F-16 fighter jets, as noted in AP and Defense News reports. These talks could further complicate US-Turkey relations, given Ankara’s recent moves to isolate Israel diplomatically and logistically.
On the ground in Gaza, the situation remains dire. Israel’s military has expanded operations in Gaza City, bombarding Hamas infrastructure, according to statements from the Israeli army. Displaced Palestinians, many of whom have already been forced to flee multiple times, say they now have no means to escape the fighting. The humanitarian crisis is expected to be a focal point as world leaders gather in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly and a high-level Security Council meeting on Gaza, scheduled for the week of September 21, 2025.
For its part, the Trump administration frames the arms sale as part of a broader US initiative aimed at bringing the Gaza war to an end. Officials argue that bolstering Israel’s military capabilities is essential for deterring further escalation and for maintaining a balance of power in the region. Detractors, however, contend that continued arms sales only fuel the conflict and undermine efforts to achieve a lasting peace.
As the debate rages in Washington and beyond, one thing is clear: the proposed $6 billion arms deal is more than just a transaction. It is a litmus test for US policy in the Middle East, a flashpoint in the global debate over the war in Gaza, and a stark reminder of the complexities that define the US-Israel alliance. With Congress set to consider the deal in the coming weeks, the world will be watching closely to see which direction American leadership takes next.
