As Israel’s military campaign in Gaza intensifies 12 weeks since the war began, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has approved a $147.5 million arms sale to Israel through an emergency authority that bypasses the standard congressional review process. In a Friday announcement, the State Department said the proposed sale of 155-millimeter artillery shells and related equipment is consistent with the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and efforts to help it “develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability.” Residents of camps in central Gaza reported strikes overnight into Saturday, according to the Associated Press, as the Israeli military said its forces were engaged in “fierce battles.”
