U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Saturday that he has signed a declaration to accelerate the delivery of nearly $4 billion in military aid to Israel, overturning restrictions that had been put in place during the previous administration.
“The decision to lift the partial arms hold, which had unjustly withheld various weapons and ammunition from Israel, further underscores that no administration has been a stronger ally to Israel than President Trump’s,” Rubio stated.
The announcement comes amid ongoing uncertainty over efforts to establish a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Since the start of the current administration, nearly $12 billion in major foreign military sales to Israel have been approved, Rubio said. “This decision aligns with President Trump’s repeal of conditions imposed by the prior administration, which had placed unnecessary restrictions on military assistance to Israel while it was engaged in a critical fight for its survival against Iran and allied militant groups,” he added.
The approved arms package includes approximately 40,000 defense items, including 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs, as well as 4,000 Predator warheads valued at $2.04 billion. While the bulk of the weaponry is set for delivery in 2026, some items could be shipped sooner, as a portion may be sourced from existing U.S. stockpiles.
Additionally, Rubio has authorized a second package of munitions sales worth $675 million, scheduled for delivery in 2028. This announcement follows the State Department’s recent approval of a separate $3 billion arms sale, which includes bombs, demolition kits, and other military equipment for Israel.
