Biden administration seeks Congressional approval for tank shell sales to Israel

The Biden administration has requested Congress to approve the sale of 45,000 shells for Israel's Merkava tanks, worth over $500 million, for use in its offensive against Hamas in Gaza. The request comes amid concerns about the use of U.S. weapons in a conflict that has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths. The State Department is urging congressional committees to quickly approve the transaction, while rights advocates express concerns over the sale's alignment with efforts to minimize civilian casualties. The administration is also considering using emergency authorities to bypass the review period for a portion of the ammunition.