President Michael McCaul (R-TX) also sent the letter to the National Security Council, warning that Israel’s enemies seek to “exploit perceived divisions” between the United States and Israel.

In the letter, McCaul pressed Biden to take “immediate public action to send Israel defense items, including 2,000-pound bombs, and to eliminate bureaucratic and other delays that are currently slowing more than ten cases criticism of weapons acquired through direct commercial sales to Israel.”

McCaul’s letter is a response to one sent to Israel by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on October 14, threatening to withhold further US arms shipments to Israel unless the Jewish state “demonstrates a sustained commitment to implement and maintain” measures aimed at “reversing the downward humanitarian trajectory” in Gaza.

In particular, Blinken and Austin called for a reversal of Israeli policies of limiting aid to the region and obstructing outside humanitarian groups, which the two said had “increased lawlessness and looting” among the starving population.

McCaul wrote that the Blinken-Austin letter was sent without the knowledge of the US Congress “despite Congress’s longstanding role in allocating security assistance to Israel and
approving arms sales”.

“Israel endured months of attacks by Hezbollah and a second ballistic missile attack
from Iran,” McCaul wrote. “Robust action is needed to deter Iran and its proxies. The time has come for you to publicly lift control of these bombs, making clear that the United States will provide Israel with all the support necessary to restore its security against these deadly adversaries.”

Israel was given 30 days to comply with US requests for increased humanitarian aid aerate. The government has until November 13 to fulfill its obligations before it risks losing support for the armaments.

US officials are currently making a concerted effort to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the final days before the US presidential election.

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Various proposals have been explored through mediators such as Qatar and Egypt, but so far no framework has been able to satisfy both sides.

About 100 hostages taken by Hamas are still unaccounted for – among them seven US citizens.