$18 billion.. America will conclude an arms deal with Israel soon

The Washington Post reported, citing three unnamed officials, that two senior Democratic members of the US Congress agreed to support a major arms deal for Israel that includes 50 F-15 fighters worth more than $18 billion.

The newspaper reported that Representative Gregory Meeks and Senator Ben Cardin signed the deal under intense pressure from the Biden administration after the two lawmakers caused the sale to be postponed for several months.

Eric Harris, communications director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement to the newspaper, "All of the issues and concerns of the committee chairman Cardin were addressed through our ongoing consultations with the administration, which is why he felt it was appropriate to allow this matter to move forward."

Meeks told the Washington Post that he is in close contact with the White House and is urging them to pressure Israel regarding humanitarian efforts and civilian casualties.

The newspaper quoted him as saying that the F-15 aircraft will not be delivered for "years from now."

Press is increasing on Biden from members of his Democratic Party due to his unpopular support Israel's limited response to its eight-month assault on Gaza that has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly 2.3 million. Biden is pressing both sides in the conflict to reach a ceasefire.