Israel’s foreign minister on Wednesday thanked the US Senate for approving $13 billion in military aid that he said sent a “strong message” to the country’s enemies.
“I thank the US Senate for passing the Israel aid package tonight with an overwhelming bipartisan majority,” Israel Katz posted on social media site X shortly after the US Congress gave its final approval to the aid package.
“The Israel aid package that now passed both houses of Congress is a clear testament to the strength of our alliance and sends a strong message to all our enemies,” Katz added.
He also thanked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell “for your unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. The Israel-US strategic partnership is unbreakable”.
The approval comes as the war in Gaza enters its 201st day.
The conflict was triggered by an October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Since then, Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas and engaged in a blistering assault on the militant group that rules the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian territory’s health ministry said 34,183 people have been killed in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, most of them women and children.
AFP