Washington DC: The United States is planning to approve an $8 billion arms sale to Israel, according to a report by The New York Times. The US State Department informed Congress on Friday of the proposal, which includes bombs, artillery shells, missiles for fighter jets and helicopters, and GPS guidance systems for unguided bombs.

According to officials, some weapons systems will take up to two years to enter production and delivery pipelines. However, certain munitions, such as 2,800 MK-82 bombs (500-pound unguided weapons), could be delivered as early as this year, provided the State Department and Congress give their final approval.

A US official stated that $6 billion of the $8 billion package primarily consists of bombs and GPS guidance systems. The package might be the final arms sale to Israel under President Joe Biden's administration.

Developments in Gaza
Meanwhile, violence continues to escalate in the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, Israeli forces conducted at least 30 attacks across Gaza, killing 70 Palestinians, including many children, according to medics and rescue workers, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz addressed the ongoing efforts to negotiate the release of captives held in Gaza. Speaking with the family of one of the hostages, Liri Elbag, Katz emphasized that all parties are working to bring the abductees home. Elbag, a 19-year-old Israeli field observer, was taken hostage during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. A recently released video showed Elbag referencing the New Year, though its date of recording has not been verified.

Negotiations and Hostage Talks
Amid the violence, Israel has resumed negotiations with Hamas through intermediaries in Qatar. A delegation comprising officials from Mossad, Shin Bet, and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) traveled to Doha to discuss a potential hostage-ceasefire agreement. These discussions follow the October 7 attack by Hamas, during which over 1,200 people were killed, and more than 250 hostages were taken. A partial ceasefire in December 2023 saw some hostages released, while many remain unaccounted for.

This arms deal and ongoing developments in Gaza highlight the complex and volatile dynamics of the region, underscoring the importance of diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.