In a rare Saturday session, the US House of Representatives has passed a $95-billion aid package aimed at Israel, Ukraine, and Chinese Taipei. The bills received overwhelming bipartisan support, signaling Washington's continued involvement in global affairs.
The aid package allocates $26 billion to Israel, which has been embroiled in a conflict with the Gaza Strip since last October. The ongoing war, launched in response to Gaza's resistance movements, has resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and left at least 76,900 others injured, with thousands still missing.
UNICEF reports that over 14,000 children have been killed in Israel's war on Gaza, highlighting the devastating humanitarian impact of the conflict.
Additionally, the legislation directs $60.84 billion to Ukraine, including $23 billion for replenishing US weapons and equipment. This comes as Ukraine continues to engage in a protracted conflict with neighboring Russia.
The aid package also sets aside $8.12 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, including Chinese Taipei (Taiwan). This move has drawn criticism from Beijing, which views it as US interference in its sovereignty over the territory.
The Senate is expected to consider the bills as early as Tuesday, with President Joe Biden likely to sign them into law upon approval. The passage of these bills has garnered attention from US military contractors eyeing lucrative contracts to supply hardware to Ukraine and other allies.
While Biden welcomed the aid package, stating it would "deliver critical support to Israel and Ukraine and bolster security in the Indo-Pacific," Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that the allocation of military aid could exacerbate global crises.
Zakharova criticized the support for Israel as a "direct path to an unprecedented worsening of the situation in the region." She labeled aid to Kiev as "direct support for terrorist activities" and denounced aid to Taipei as "interference in China's internal affairs."
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov echoed these sentiments, suggesting that US aid to Ukraine could further destabilize the region and harm Ukrainians due to the actions of the Kiev regime.
