The Trump administration has approved the sale of over 20,000 U.S.-manufactured assault rifles to Israel, a deal that was previously stalled under President Joe Biden due to concerns about potential misuse by extremist Israeli settlers, according to a document reviewed by Reuters and a source familiar with the transaction.

A congressional notification dated March 6 outlined the $24 million deal, which includes Colt Carbine 5.56 mm fully automatic rifles. The weapons are designated for the Israeli National Police.

While relatively small in scale compared to the billions of dollars in annual U.S. military aid to Israel, the sale drew significant scrutiny under the Biden administration. Officials had delayed the agreement amid concerns that the rifles could end up in the hands of settlers involved in violent attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Under President Biden, the U.S. had imposed sanctions on individuals and organizations tied to such violence. However, President Trump revoked those sanctions on his first day in office—January 20—through an executive order, marking a sharp shift in U.S. policy toward Israel. Since then, his administration has moved swiftly to authorize several large-scale arms deals with the country.

The March 6 notice to Congress emphasized that the sale had been reviewed in light of “political, military, economic, human rights, and arms control considerations.” However, the State Department declined to say whether any conditions or assurances were required from Israel to ensure the rifles are not used in ways that could escalate tensions in the West Bank.

The move has sparked renewed debate over U.S. arms exports to Israel and the broader implications for human rights and regional stability.