The high number of civilian deaths in Gaza has forced the Biden administration to continue its support for Israel, along with growing calls from lawmakers and the American public to curb military support there.

The United States has approved $20 billion in arms sales to Israel, including several fighter jets and advanced air-to-air missiles, the State Department announced Tuesday. Congress was notified of the impending sale, which includes more than 50 F-15 fighter jets, advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, or AMRAAMs, 120 mm tank ammunition and high-explosive mortars, and tactical vehicles, and comes at a time of heightened . Concerns that Israel could become involved in a wider Middle East war.

However, the weapons are not expected to be delivered to Israel anytime soon, as they are contracts that will take years to fulfill. Most of what is being sold is to help Israel build long-term military capabilities, with the earliest systems not expected to be delivered under the contract until the 2026 deadline.

“The United States is committed to Israel's security, and it is imperative to America's national interests to help Israel develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those goals,” the State Department said in a release on the sale.

The high number of civilian deaths in Gaza has forced the Biden administration to continue its support for Israel, along with growing calls from lawmakers and the American public to curb military support there. A shipment of 2,000-pound weapons has been intercepted amid continued Israeli airstrikes in a densely populated civilian area of ​​Gaza.

The contracts include not only the sale of 50 new aircraft to be produced by Boeing. It will also include upgrade kits to upgrade Israel's current fleet of two dozen F-15 fighter jets with new engines and radars. Jets account for the largest share of $20 billion in sales, with first deliveries expected in 2029.