The State Department is set to release $3.5 billion in Foreign Military Financing to Israel. The massive transfer of funds comes as the White House is asking Israel to investigate claims of rape in its detention centers for Palestinians.
CNN reported speaking with multiple officials who confirmed the funds will be released. The money was allocated by Congress in the $95 billion foreign military aid bill that included $61 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel.
Foreign Military Financing (FMF) is a State Department program that gives US taxpayer dollars to foreign governments to purchase weapons from American arms dealers. However, Tel Aviv is allowed to use some of the FMF funds on Israeli-made weapons.
As the funds are used to contract with arms deals, the weapons are typically not delivered immediately.
Israel is heavily dependent on the US to arm its military, giving Washington significant leverage over Tel Aviv. Over the ten-month Israeli onslaught in Gaza, the White House has resisted domestic pressure to condition arm sales to Israel.
The release of funds will likely be viewed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a green light for Israel to continue its brutal treatment of the Palestinians.
One point where the White House could have used the FMF funds as leverage is to push Israel to investigate the rape occurring in its detention facilities. Late last month, Israeli military police arrested several soldiers accused of using sodomy as a means of torture that left the victim bleeding and unable to walk.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the US wants Israel to investigate the allegations. “When there are alleged violations, the government of Israel needs to take steps to investigate those who are alleged to have committed abuses and, if appropriate, hold them accountable,” Miller stated at a press conference. He did not call for an independent investigation.
At least some of the soldiers have been released. Several Israeli officials have protested the arrests of the perpetrators, arguing it is not a crime to rape Palestinians.
Earlier this week, the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem published a report describing the Israeli detention facilities for Palestinians as “a network of torture camps.” The organizations said physical, psychological, and sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners is routine.