Biden administration again bypasses Congress on emergency weapons sale to Israel

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Alex Brandon/AP)

For the second time this month the Biden administration is bypassing Congress to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel as the country continues to prosecute its war against Hamas in Gaza under increasing international criticism.

The US State Department said on Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had told Congress that he had made a second emergency determination covering a 147.5 million-dollar (£115 million) sale of equipment, including fuses, charges and primers, that is needed to make the 155mm shells that Israel has already purchased function.