On Friday, 31 January 2026, the United States Department of State approved a 6.6 billion dollar foreign military sales package to Israel, covering Apache attack helicopters, assault vehicles, and additional military contracts, amid continued regional tensions and the fragile Gaza ceasefire .
The package includes the sale of Apache helicopters manufactured by Boeing and Lockheed Martin, alongside a separate 740 million dollar military contract and an additional 150 million dollars allocated for light utility helicopters. The approval was confirmed through official notifications to US Congress, consistent with Washington’s long-standing military support framework for Israel.
The authorization comes as Israeli forces continue military operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where Israeli Apache helicopters have been actively deployed in combat operations. Since October 2023, at least 71,662 people have been killed in Gaza, according to local health authorities, underscoring the humanitarian and political sensitivity surrounding the weapons sale .
Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that took effect on 10 October 2025, Israeli strikes in Gaza have continued, resulting in nearly 500 additional fatalities after the truce began. Human rights organizations and United Nations experts have repeatedly urged the United States to halt arms transfers to Israel, arguing that continued military support enables large-scale civilian harm and potential violations of international humanitarian law .
Defending the decision, the US State Department stated that the sale is vital to US national security interests and supports Israel’s ability to maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. The sale was announced alongside a separate 9 billion dollar US weapons approval for Saudi Arabia, including Patriot missile defense systems, as Washington recalibrates regional security alliances amid escalating tensions involving Iran and the broader Middle East .
