US President Donald Trump has announced that Washington will stop providing $4 billion in annual aid to Israel after this year. However, the US will continue selling weapons to its close Middle Eastern ally under an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump made the announcement on Tuesday as Americans voted in the midterm elections, which will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress. He described the move as an attempt to remove a political issue that left-wing Democrats have used to criticise Republican support for Israel.

Trump did not explain how his administration would end the funding by December. The existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual US military assistance, remains in place until September 2028.

Speaking to Fox News' "Fox & Friends", Trump said Israel no longer needed the financial support. He also said Democrats had used the funding to attack Republicans.

"Now, as far as paying Israel, Bibi Netanyahu and I have made a deal that we give Israel $4 billion a year, and we made a deal months ago that we're stopping," Trump said. "We've already agreed that by the end of this year we won't be paying Israel. Now we'll help Israel if they need it," he added.

The announcement comes amid growing criticism of US support for Israel, particularly among Democrats, following Israel's military campaign in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack in October 2023. A Quinnipiac University poll in June found that 48% of voters and 66% of Democrats believe Washington is too supportive of Israel. The figures stood at 16% and 20%, respectively, in 2017.

Trump specifically referred to Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who opposes unconditional military aid to Israel. El-Sayed is contesting a key Michigan Senate race and scripted history to become the first Muslim to serve in the US Senate.

"Because they (Israel) don't need it, and because why should we suffer the slings from lunatics like an El-Sayed when they don't need it?" Trump said. "It's a bad talking point."

Israel's political situation has also added uncertainty to the relationship. Netanyahu lost his governing majority in the October 27 election but denied his opponents a clear path to remove him. His rival, Gadi Eisenkot, criticised the announcement, saying, "The fact that the security establishment, along with Israeli citizens, is learning about a change in the strategic relationship framework through the media highlights just how much Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct poses a genuine danger. We can no longer rely on him and must replace him."

Trump's announcement has also drawn criticism from some Republicans. Representative Don Bacon told CNN, "What I really had heartburn about is the Israelis didn't know about it."

Congress passed legislation in 2020 authorising the aid, but lawmakers must approve annual appropriations to release the funds. Meanwhile, Netanyahu said in an October interview that Israel should prepare for reduced US assistance, adding, "If you think we're going to continue receiving what I secured twice, and that's tens of billions of dollars in American aid for the defence budget, prepare yourselves and get used to the fact that it won't happen because America has changed."

The US House has also passed a provision in the 2027 National Defence Authorisation Act to deepen military technology cooperation with Israel. However, dozens of NGOs have described the proposal as "exceptionally dangerous" and urged lawmakers to withdraw it.