The US Congress approves a huge financial aid package for Israel and Ukraine

The US Congress approved a wide-ranging foreign aid package after months of delay, paving the way for billions of dollars in new funding to Ukraine amid Russian troop advances and military supply shortages in Kiev.

The Senate approved late Tuesday, by a vote of 79 to 18, four bills passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday, after Republican leaders in the House of Representatives suddenly changed course last week and allowed a vote on a $95 billion package, mostly military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, and US partners in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The four bills were combined into one package in the Senate, which President Joe Biden said he would sign into law on Wednesday.

The first bill provides $61 billion to Ukraine, the second provides $26 billion to Israel and humanitarian aid to civilians in conflict zones around the world, and the third allocates $8.12 billion to confront communist China in the Indo-Pacific region.

The fourth, which the House of Representatives added to the package last week, includes a possible ban on TikTok, taking measures to transfer confiscated Russian assets to Ukraine, and imposing new sanctions on Iran.

Two US officials told Reuters that the administration is already preparing a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, the first installment of the bill related to Kiev.

The package includes vehicles, a Stinger air defense missile system, additional ammunition for highly mobile artillery missile systems, 155 mm artillery ammunition, TOW and Javelin anti-tank missiles, and other weapons that can be used immediately on the battlefield.

“This national security bill is one of the most important measures passed by Congress in a very long time to protect US security and the security of Western democracy,” Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a press conference after the vote.

Analysts said the flow of arms would improve Kiev’s chances of avoiding a major Russian advance in the east, although it would have been more beneficial if the aid had been provided at the time Biden requested it last year.

It’s not yet clear though, how the money allocated to Israel will affect the conflict in Gaza.

Israel has already received billions of dollars in security aid from the United States.

The package includes humanitarian aid that its supporters hope will help Palestinians in Gaza.

The House of Representatives approved the bill related to Israel with an overwhelming majority of 366 votes in favor and 58 votes against.

The bill was opposed by 21 Republicans and 37 Democrats.

The Republican votes of rejection came from those who adhered to opposition to foreign aid in general.

The Democratic objectors called for action to mitigate the devastating humanitarian losses resulting from the Israeli campaign in Gaza in response to the attack by Hamas on October 7, which, according to Israeli statistics, resulted in the killing of 1,200 people and the taking of about 250 hostages.

Health authorities in Gaza say that the Israeli military attack that followed those attacks has so far led to more than 34,000 Palestinians killed.

This is the second time this year that the Democratic-led Senate has approved security aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region.

The latest bill, which was issued more than two months ago, received 70% support in the 100-member House of Republicans and Democrats, but leaders of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives didn’t allow a vote on foreign aid until last week.

In turn, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz thanked the US Senate on Wednesday for approving military aid worth $13 billion, considering that this sends a strong message to the enemies of Israel.

The Foreign Minister said on X, “I thank the US Senate for adopting, with a large, bipartisan majority, this aid to Israel… It sends a strong message to all our enemies”.

Katz added, “The Israeli aid package that has now been approved by both houses of Congress is a clear testimony to the strength of our alliance and sends a strong message to all our enemies”.

The Congress vote comes as the war in Gaza enters its 201st day.