Trump Administration Proposes $6.4 Billion Arms Sale to Israel Amid Ongoing Gaza Violence

The Trump administration has submitted a proposal to Congress for a $6.4 billion arms package to Israel, including 30 AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters and 3,250 armored vehicles. If approved, this would mark one of the largest single U.S. arms sales to Israel in recent years and comes at a time when Gaza is under relentless bombardment and regional tensions are escalating.

The Details of the Sale

According to Reuters reporting, the arms package breaks down as follows:

• $3.8 billion for 30 Boeing-built AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters, the most advanced attack helicopter variant in U.S. service.
• $1.9 billion for 3,250 armored vehicles, likely a mix of Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs) and wheeled Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs).
• $750 million for spare parts, training, logistics, and sustainment support.

The AH-64E represents a major leap in battlefield technology, with enhanced targeting, manned-unmanned teaming with drones, and upgraded survivability features. The armored vehicles will expand Israel’s ground mobility in operations across Gaza and along its northern border.

What It Means for Gaza and the Region

For Palestinians, this sale signals more suffering. Attack helicopters and armored vehicles are not defensive systems—they are designed for offensive operations, including urban warfare. In Gaza, where more than two million people live under siege in one of the most densely populated areas on earth, such weapons increase the likelihood of civilian deaths, mass displacement, and destruction of vital infrastructure.

The U.S. has long justified arms sales to Israel as essential for maintaining its “qualitative military edge.” Yet, for many, these sales deepen a cycle of violence that undermines peace and security. Instead of reinforcing safety, they normalize the use of overwhelming force in environments where civilians are the most vulnerable.

The Politics Behind the Deal

While the sale is expected to face scrutiny from some lawmakers—particularly around compliance with international humanitarian law—it is likely to pass Congress. This reflects the long-standing U.S.-Israel security partnership, rooted in a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding that allocated $38 billion in military aid through 2028.

But this deal comes amid growing calls in Washington and beyond to rethink unconditional U.S. military support. Human rights advocates warn that U.S. complicity in potential war crimes undermines both American credibility and long-term stability in the Middle East.

PEP’s Position: Redirect Military Spending Toward Peace

At Peace Economy Project, we reject the logic that peace can be secured through ever-expanding arsenals. This $6.4 billion could instead fund:

• Healthcare and education for millions at home and abroad.
• Investments in renewable energy and climate resilience.
• Peacebuilding initiatives that reduce violence rather than escalate it.

Weapons transfers like this not only prolong conflict but also entrench militarized economies—where corporate profits and defense contractors benefit at the expense of human lives.

A Call to Action

We urge Congress and the American public to question the necessity, morality, and legality of this sale. The Arms Export Control Act requires that U.S.-supplied weapons not be used to commit human rights violations. Given the documented devastation in Gaza, approving this sale would make the U.S. complicit in further atrocities.

It is time to move the money—from weapons of war to the needs of people and communities.