The Trump administration is pressing Congress to approve nearly $6 billion in weapons sales to Israel, including a $3.8 billion deal that would nearly double the country's Apache helicopter capabilities.

The administration is moving forward with its request despite Israel's strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar and its intensifying offensive in Gaza City, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The proposed sales include $3.8 billion for 30 AH-64 Apache helicopters — nearly doubling Israel’s fleet — and $1.9 billion for 3,250 infantry assault vehicles, according to documents reviewed by the publication. The weapons, financed through U.S. military aid, would not be delivered for two to three years.

The White House is now seeking approval for the deal from the four top Republican and Democrat leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a step necessary to advance the package.

News of the proposed sale came days before world leaders gather next week in New York City for the annual United Nations General Assembly, during which the UN Security Council is also due to hold a high-level meeting on Gaza, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The request was first submitted about a month ago, before Israel's Sept. 9 strike in Doha, which killed Hamas officials but also angered Qatar, a key U.S. ally hosting the largest American military base in the region.

President Donald Trump later hosted Qatar's prime minister to reassure him that the Gulf nation would not be targeted again.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also visited Doha after meetings in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel's right to attack Hamas leaders "wherever they might be." Rubio did not publicly challenge that stance.

The weapons request has continued despite international condemnation of Israel's campaign. European governments and aid groups have criticized Israel's ground operation in Gaza City, while a U.N. committee this week accused Israel of genocide, an allegation it denies.

More than 65,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to Palestinian officials, with widespread famine and destruction reported.

"This says all systems go," said Seth Binder, advocacy director at the Middle East Democracy Center, describing the proposed sales as a strong signal of U.S. backing.

Trump has steadily expanded U.S. weapons transfers to Israel since taking office. He lifted the holds placed by former President Joe Biden on shipments of 2,000-pound bombs and in February, he invoked emergency powers to expedite more transfers.

Biden, who oversaw large weapons shipments after Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, later faced criticism from Democrats and allies for not pushing harder for a cease-fire. His administration briefly delayed shipments during disputes over Israel's operations in Gaza.