The approved sale includes 30 Apache helicopters used by the Israeli military to attack Palestinians during the genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Posted: January 31, 2026
Washington has approved $6.67 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel amid a fragile ceasefire in Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.
The U.S. State Department said Friday that Israel has received permission to purchase American weapons, including 30 Apache attack helicopters for $3.8 billion and infantry attack vehicles for $1.98 billion.
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Apache helicopters will be sold to Israel by Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Reuters reported. A third military contract has also been awarded for $740 million, with an additional $150 million to be spent on light utility helicopters, according to Reuters.
Israeli forces have been using Apache helicopters extensively to attack Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to Gaza health officials. According to Gaza health authorities, at least 71,662 people have died in Israel’s war there since October 2023.
The U.S. State Department said in a statement that day, “The United States is committed to Israel’s security,” and “It is critical to U.S. national interests to support Israel in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.”
“This proposed sale is consistent with these goals,” the department said.
The United States also sends billions of dollars worth of military supplies to Israel each year, though the weapons are primarily sent as aid rather than sales.
Human rights groups and United Nations experts have repeatedly called on the United States to stop arms shipments to Israel, which they say has increased Israel’s ability to wage a genocidal war in Gaza.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has largely held since it went into effect on October 10, 2025, but Israeli forces have continued attacks on Palestinians in the war-torn region, killing nearly 500 people despite an agreement to end fighting.
The U.S. State Department also said Friday that it had approved a $9 billion sale to Saudi Arabia of 730 Patriot missiles and related equipment used to defend against upcoming attacks.
“This enhanced capability will protect the ground forces of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and our regional allies and significantly enhance Saudi Arabia’s contribution to integrated air and missile defense systems in the region,” the State Department said.
The sale of US missile defense equipment comes as US President Donald Trump said a large ‘fleet’ of US warships had been redeployed closer to Iran in anticipation of a possible US attack on Tehran.
“The Kingdom will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military action against Iran or attacks by any party,” Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a phone call with Iranian President Massoud Fezeshkian earlier this week.
