The Trump administration has approved a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel that includes powerful 2,000-pound bombs, weapons that had raised concerns over potential mass casualties in Gaza and whose delivery was suspended by the Biden administration two years ago.
The $2.8 billion package includes 40,000 bombs — 20,000 MK‑84s and 20,000 BLU‑117s — according to two US officials, reports AP.
Public support for Israel in the United States has declined since the Gaza war began in 2023, particularly among Democrats. A Quinnipiac University poll in June found 48 per cent of voters and 66 per cent of Democrats believe Washington is overly supportive of Israel, compared with 16 per cent and 20 per cent when the question was first asked in 2017.
Israel has regularly deployed the 2,000‑pound bombs in Gaza and Lebanon, drawing scrutiny from rights experts. Gaza health authorities report more than 73,000 Palestinians killed in Israel’s campaign. A UN inquiry concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza, a charge Israel rejects.
Israel maintains its actions are in self‑defense, citing the October 2023 Hamas‑led attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages being taken.
On 28 February, US and Israeli forces struck Iran, prompting Iranian retaliation against Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases. Subsequent US‑Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli operations in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions.
Congress has been informally notified of the proposed sale. Most of the package would be financed through foreign military funding, under which US taxpayer money is provided to Israel to purchase American‑made weapons.
The deal is the latest in a series of Trump administration measures to bolster Israel’s military capabilities. The Gaza war has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastated the territory. Despite a US‑brokered ceasefire, violence has persisted.
The package, first reported by The Washington Post, comes as Israel faces mounting international isolation over its Gaza campaign, launched in response to the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack. The proposed sale also suggests that strains between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have not weakened the close US‑Israeli alliance.
The two leaders have had a fluctuating relationship, with Trump expressing frustration over the Iran conflict before their latest White House meeting in July.
Biden administration withheld one shipment of the bombs in 2024, but Trump lifted the suspension after returning to office.
Last year, the Trump administration bypassed the usual congressional review process to approve an arms sale worth nearly $3 billion to Israel, which included more than 35,500 of the bombs.
In January, the administration approved another round of arms sales to Israel totaling $6.67 billion.
The 2,000‑pound bombs come in several variants, with some designed to penetrate underground targets and others detonating above ground to cause widespread destruction.
Israel has released few details about the specific bombs and artillery used in Gaza. However, experts analyzing strike footage and fragments recovered from attack sites believe US‑made bombs have been deployed against Hamas tunnel networks, while also causing casualties in densely populated areas.
Although the heaviest fighting in Gaza has eased since a fragile ceasefire took effect in October, Israel has continued to carry out strikes. Several people were killed in overnight attacks into Tuesday, despite efforts by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son‑in‑law and Middle East negotiator, to advance the ceasefire.
Kushner met Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month and urged Israel to scale back its operations as part of efforts to move the agreement forward.
Militants have also staged shooting attacks against Israeli forces. Israel says its strikes are in response to those incidents and other ceasefire violations.
The Hamas‑led assault on southern Israel in 2023 killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,264 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire began, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
