RAMALLAH: The Palestinian presidency said that the US House of Representatives' approval of billions of dollars in new military aid to Israel marked "an aggression against the Palestinian people". The money would "translate into thousands of Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip" and the West Bank, said Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, calling it a "dangerous escalation".
Meanwhile, Palestinian movement group Hamas on Sunday condemned the US House of Representatives' approval of billions of dollars in new military aid to Israel, much of which is to strengthen Israeli air defences. "This support, which violates international law, is a licence and a green light for the extremist government (Israel) to continue the brutal aggression against our people," Hamas said in a statement.
"We consider this step a confirmation of the official American complicity and partnership in the war of extermination waged by the fascist occupation army against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip."
On Saturday, the US House of Representatives approved $13 billion in military assistance to America's historic ally Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Washington is already Israel's largest military supplier. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the "much appreciated aid bill" showed strong support for Israel and "defends Western civilisation". The US bill said that more than $9 billion will also be earmarked to address "the dire need for humanitarian assistance for Gaza as well as other vulnerable populations around the world".
The boost for Israel's defences comes after almost all of the more than 300 missiles and drones that Iran launched towards the country a week ago were intercepted, according to the Israeli military. On Sunday, Israel said it will hold a "protest talk" with ambassadors from several United Nations Security Council members which voted for the "State of Palestine" to become a full UN member. France, Japan and others backed the bid which the United States vetoed. — AFP
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