“Incomprehensible”: U.S. Approves $20 Billion in New Arms for Israel as Gaza Death Toll Tops 40,000

Health officials in Gaza say the official death toll from Israel ’s 10-month war has topped 40,000 .

The grim milestone was reached just days after the Biden administration greenlit $20 billion in additional weapons sales to Israel , including 50 F-15 fighter jets, tank ammunition, mortar rounds, tactical vehicles and advanced air-to-air missiles.

The State Department approved the sales despite growing calls for the U.S. to impose an arms embargo on Israel .

Josh Paul : It's a dark day for American foreign policy, and a stain, I think.

Paul : Sale of F-15s will take at least three to five years to build and will not be delivered until 2029 .

He says the timing of the sales is a way to avoid congressional action to try and block them while Prime Minister Netanyahu is visiting the U.S. Paul: There are 15 days until the administration can move forward with offering the letters of offer and acceptance.

A new round of Gaza ceasefire and hostage talks are beginning today in Doha , Qatar .

Hamas has said it will not send representatives to the talks.

The talks are the first to be held since Israel assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh , who had been Hamas ’s chief negotiator.

Jan Egeland , secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council , joins us from Bogotá , Colombia .