Biden plans $1bn arms package for Israel but could face delays

US REPORTER for the president, who has been labelled “Genocide Joe” by pro-Palestinian protesters and faces discontent from his own party as the war in Gaza approaches its sixth month.

Some 33,000 people have died in the conflict so far, which the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) attribute to Hamas embedding itself in civilian infrastructure.

The proposal would likely face resistance from Democrats in Congress, who have concerns about sending weapons as the civilian death toll mounts.

The deal is being considered despite same day the aid workers – who included three Britons – were killed, the State Department reportedly approved the transfer of more than 2,000 bombs to Israel.

Separately, the House of Representatives is set to vote this weekend on a bill that would unlock $26.4billion in aid for Israel to “defend itself against Iran and its proxies”. Among its provisions are billions of dollars to resupply its “Iron Dome” air defence system.

Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, announced that a series of foreign aid bills for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan would be brought to the floor following the Iranian attack on April 13.

The House voted 316-94 to advance the bills and set up a vote today, with Democrats lending their support to push the prospective legislation out of the committee stage.

Yesterday, the US imposed a further round of sanctions amid frustration with the escalating violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Ben-Zion Gopstein, an ally of Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, and two organisations raising funds to support settlers accused of violence have seen their US assets frozen.

More than 400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank in the past six months, and a further nine by settlers, according to the United Nations.