Washington, 30 December 2023 (dpa/MIA) - The US State Department has approved the sale of further weapons to Israel worth millions of dollars, bypassing Congress.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Friday said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined that "an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel" of the weapons, worth some $147.5 million, without needing the usual congressional review.

The move was "in the national security interests of the United States," the agency continued.

Blinken bypassed Congress in a similar way on December 9 to enable the sale of arms to Israel, which is currently fighting against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza war.

The conflict was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, which terrorists from Hamas and other groups carried out in Israel on October 7. As a result, around 1,200 people were killed on the Israeli side, including at least 850 civilians.

The attack prompted Israel to bombard the coastal strip and launch an extensive ground operation. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, around 21,320 people have been killed so far.

Photo: MIA archive