The United States confirmed it had restocked Israel’s supplies of ammunition, hours after finally condemning the attack on a UN school in Gaza that killed at least 16 people sheltering there.

The Pentagon confirmed the Israeli military had requested additional ammunition to restock its dwindling supplies on July 20. The US Defense Department approved the sale three days later.

“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement.

He added: “Both munitions had been in WRSA-I [War Reserves Stock Allies-Israel] stock for a few years, well before the current crisis.”

Part of the requested munitions that came from a stockpile of ammunition which was stored by the US military on the ground in Israel for emergency use is estimated to be worth $1 billion.