Congress pauses Trump's $1 billion arms sale package to Israel

Congress has placed a hold on the $1 billion arms sale package for Israel on Tuesday – the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Donald Trump. 

The Trump administration requested Congress approve the sale of bombs and other military hardware to Israel earlier this week. 

Congress placed a hold on the sale, a move pushed by Democratic lawmakers Tuesday, sources told The Hill newspaper.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have the authority to halt sales packages if it exceeds a certain amount of money.

Democrats have been pushing back against lots of Trump's recent orders, including the halting of U.S. foreign aid. 

During a press conference with Netanyahu Tuesday evening, Trump announced that the United States will take over the Gaza strip and be responsible for clearing all of the unexploded ordinances.

Netanyahu praised Trump in his remarks, stating that the president is "the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.”

The Gaza Strip has been largely devastated by Israel's war with the terrorist organization Hamas.