The Pentagon said on Saturday that the Biden administration used emergency powers to allow the sale of approximately 14,000 tank shells to Israel without congressional review.

The Pentagon said in a statement that the State Department on Friday used an emergency declaration under the Arms Export Control Act regarding tank shells worth $106.5 million for immediate delivery to Israel.

The shells are part of a larger sale reported by Reuters for the first time on Friday, which the Biden administration is requesting Congress to approve. The larger package is worth more than $500 million and consists of 45,000 shells for Israeli Merkava tanks, which are regularly deployed in their attack on Gaza, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians.

As the war intensifies, how and where U.S. weapons are used in the conflict has come under increased scrutiny, although U.S. officials say there are no plans to impose conditions on military aid to Israel or consider withholding some of it.

Human rights advocates have expressed concern about the sale, saying it does not align with Washington's efforts to pressure Israel to reduce civilian casualties.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken decided and provided a detailed justification to Congress for the necessity of immediately providing tank shells to Israel serving the United States' national security interests, according to the Pentagon statement.

According to the Israeli Jerusalem Post, the sale will be from U.S. Army stock and will consist of M830A1 multipurpose high-explosive anti-tank rounds with a tracking device (MPAT) and related equipment.

The Pentagon said, "Israel will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent against regional threats and to bolster its internal defense," adding that there will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of the sale.