EXCLUSIVE — The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee filed a letter to President Joe Biden requesting an immediate surge of weapons to Israel despite hesitancy from the State and Defense departments.

Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) also sent the letter to the National Security Council, warning that Israel’s enemies are seeking to “exploit perceived divisions” between the United States and Israel.

In the letter, McCaul pressured Biden to take “immediate, public action to surge defense articles to Israel, including 2,000-pound bombs, and to eliminate bureaucratic and other delays that are currently slowing more than ten critical weapons cases purchased via Direct Commercial Sale to Israel.”

McCaul’s letter is a response to one sent to Israel by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Oct. 14 threatening to withhold further U.S. weapons shipments to Israel if the Jewish state did not “demonstrate a sustained commitment to implementing and maintaining” measures intended to “reverse the downward humanitarian trajectory” in Gaza.

In particular, Blinken and Austin demanded the reversal of Israeli policies limiting aid to the region and obstructing outside humanitarian groups, which the pair said has “increased lawlessness and looting” among the starving population.

McCaul wrote that the Blinken-Austin letter was sent without the knowledge of the U.S. Congress “despite Congress’ longstanding role in appropriating security assistance to Israel and
approving arms sales.”

“Israel has endured months of attacks from Hezbollah, and a second ballistic missile attack
from Iran,” McCaul wrote. “Robust action is needed to deter Iran and its proxies. It is past time for you to publicly lift the hold on these bombs, making clear that the United States will provide Israel all support needed to restore its security against these lethal adversaries.”

Israel was given 30 days to conform to U.S. demands for increased humanitarian aid in Gaza. The government has until Nov. 13 to fulfill its obligations before risking the loss of weaponry support.

U.S. officials are currently making a concerted effort to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in the final days leading up to the U.S. presidential election.

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Various proposals have been explored through mediators such as Qatar and Egypt, but so far, no framework has been able to satisfy both sides.

Approximately 100 hostages taken by Hamas are still unaccounted for — among them, seven American citizens.