Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Netanyahu: If Lebanese Army takes steps to disarm Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including phased reduction of Israeli military presence in Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Photojournalist Houssam Al-Masri martyred, reporters Hatem Omar, Mohammad Ashraf Salameh injured in Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex.
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace

US advances 20,000 rifle sale to 'Israel' despite prior Biden-era hold

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 5 Apr 2025 08:29
3 Min Read

The Trump administration approved a delayed $24 million rifle sale to "Israel" despite earlier Biden-era concerns over potential misuse by settlers.

Listen
  • x
  • US advances 20,000 rifle sale to 'Israel' despite prior Biden-era holdIsraeli police deploy in the Old City of al-Quds ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 (AP)

The Trump administration advanced the sale of over 20,000 US-made assault rifles to "Israel" last month, according to a document reviewed by Reuters and a source familiar with the matter.

The deal moved forward despite having been previously delayed by the Biden administration over concerns that the weapons could be used by Israeli settlers described as extremist.

On March 6, the State Department formally notified Congress of the $24 million sale, specifying that the Israeli police would be the end user, Reuters noted.

While modest in value compared to the billions of dollars in arms the US supplies to "Israel", the deal attracted scrutiny after the Biden administration paused it, citing fears the rifles might be misused by settlers involved in violent attacks against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The Biden administration had imposed sanctions on individuals and groups linked to such violence amid a surge in settler attacks in the area.

Notably, on his first day in office on January 20, Trump signed an executive order reversing US sanctions on Israeli settlers. Since then, his administration has approved a series of major weapons sales to "Israel".

Related News

Valery Zaluzhny: From Ukraine top general to presidential prospect

FP: Why the Global South won't pick sides in US-China rivalry

The March 6 notification indicated that the US had considered “political, military, economic, human rights, and arms control” factors before proceeding with the sale.

Settler violence had been escalating even before the outbreak of the war on Gaza and has intensified since the Israeli war machine was unleashed on Gaza more than a year ago.

Trump has cultivated a close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pledging unwavering support for "Israel" in its war on Gaza. In several instances, his administration has advanced arms sales to "Israel" despite calls from Democratic lawmakers to pause such transfers pending further information.

On Thursday, the US Senate overwhelmingly voted against efforts to halt $8.8 billion in arms sales to "Israel" due to human rights concerns, rejecting two resolutions of disapproval with votes of 82–15 and 83–15. These resolutions, which aimed to block the sale of large bombs and other offensive weaponry, were introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.

The sale of US-made rifles had initially been suspended following objections from Democratic lawmakers, who requested details on how "Israel" intended to use the weapons. Although the relevant congressional committees ultimately cleared the transaction, the Biden administration maintained the hold.

Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir—an extremist member of Netanyahu’s government—oversees the Israeli police. In November 2023, The Times of Israel reported that his ministry placed “a heavy emphasis on arming civilian security squads” in the wake of the Palestinian Resistance's October 7 attacks against "Israel".

Read more: US fast-tracks $4B arms deliveries to Israeli regime

  • United States
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • US
  • Trump administration
  • Joe Biden
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS