"Shipment of US Arms to Israel Signals Improvement in Strained Relations Amid Israel-Gaza Conflict"

"Despite a week of strained relations with Israel due to its actions in the Gaza War, reports indicate that Washington has approved arms transfers to its ally totaling billions of dollars."

The approved arms transfers reportedly encompass over 1,800 MK84 2,000lb (900kg) bombs, 500 MK82 500lb bombs, and 25 F35A fighter jets, according to reports from The Washington Post and Reuters news agency.

The use of the larger bombs has been associated with airstrikes in Gaza that resulted in significant civilian casualties.

Washington provides Israel with $3.8 billion (£3 billion) in annual military assistance.

However, the latest package arrives amid growing concerns from the Biden administration regarding the increasing number of civilian casualties in Gaza and the need for humanitarian access to the region. The United Nations has warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine.

The administration has also expressed its opposition to an expected significant Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, located on the Egypt border, where over a million displaced people are residing.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ramallah condemned the United States for its inconsistent stances.

In a post on X, previously recognized as Twitter, it stated: "Calling for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cease killing civilians while simultaneously providing him with weapons represents an unprecedented contradiction in principles and morality."

The revelation of the arms transfers coincided with President Joe Biden acknowledging "the impact being felt by many in the Arab-American community due to the conflict in Gaza."

Some prominent members of the president's Democratic party have strongly criticized the arms transfers, advocating for limitations or conditions on US military aid to Israel based on changes in its military operations.

The US State Department informed the BBC that it couldn't verify any potential or pending US arms transfers until Congress was formally notified.

The extra warplanes destined for Israel, as reported by the Washington Post citing Pentagon and State Department officials, were initially approved as part of a larger package by Congress in 2008. These planes were requested last year, prior to the deadly attacks by Hamas on October 7th, which sparked the Gaza war.

During Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant's recent visit to Washington, it was reported that he brought with him an extensive list of US weapons that his country sought to receive promptly.

Throughout the conflict, Israel, despite being a significant exporter of weapons, has heavily depended on American air defenses and munitions.

Military experts report that tens of thousands of bombs have been deployed over Gaza, describing the aerial campaign as one of the most intense and devastating in recent history.

In late last year, analysis of bomb craters through satellite imagery led major US news outlets to conclude that Israel had frequently employed its largest 2000-pound (900kg) bombs.

The New York Times cited explosives experts who remarked that while bombs of that magnitude were utilized by various Western militaries, they were seldom deployed by US forces in densely populated areas anymore.

In meetings with senior US officials, Mr. Gallant emphasized the importance of maintaining his country's superior military capabilities in the Middle East and readiness for potential escalation in conflict with the formidable Lebanese armed group, Hezbollah.

He also endeavored to alleviate tensions with his nation's paramount ally, which had reached their nadir during the Gaza conflict following the US's abstention from a crucial UN Security Council vote on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his displeasure when this resulted in the passage of a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Following the vote, White House spokesman John Kirby dismissed assertions that the US had altered its stance and refuted any readiness to begin conditioning aid to Israel.

"It's not about employing power dynamics with our valued friend and ally, Israel. It's about assisting them in defending themselves," he conveyed to journalists.

My last training data is up to date as of January 2022.

Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, Israel, the European Union, and others.

Since the reported approval of the new arms transfers, there have been indications of improved relations between Israel and the US.

As of my last update in January 2022, Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, Israel, the European Union, and others.

Mr. Netanyahu had previously canceled the trip in response to the UN Security Council ceasefire vote.

Israel has additionally agreed to dispatch senior intelligence officials to Egypt and Qatar for renewed discussions in an effort to secure the release of its hostages as part of a potential truce agreement with Hamas, a move that is expected to be well-received by the United States.