The Trump administration is preparing a major arms package worth approximately USD 2.8 billion for Israel, which includes the delivery of 40,000 powerful 2,000-pound bombs. According to US officials, the package consists of 20,000 Mk-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, with most of the funding coming through US foreign military financing. Congress has been informally notified about the proposed deal, which is still awaiting final approval. The move marks another step in strengthening Israel’s military capabilities and reverses restrictions imposed during the previous Biden administration, which had paused shipments of the same bombs due to concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza.
The proposed weapons transfer comes at a time when Israel continues military operations in Gaza despite a fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States. The conflict, which began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel, has caused widespread destruction and heavy loss of life. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, while Israel says it continues targeting Hamas militants and underground tunnel networks. Military experts have previously identified remnants of US-made bombs at several strike locations, raising international concerns over their use in densely populated civilian areas and the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict.
Despite reports of occasional tensions between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly over the Iran conflict earlier this year, the latest arms package highlights the continued strength of the US-Israel strategic alliance. The Trump administration has already approved several large-scale weapons sales to Israel since returning to office, including previous deals worth billions of dollars. While supporters argue the weapons are necessary for Israel’s national security, critics warn that supplying additional heavy bombs could intensify the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and further increase international scrutiny of the conflict.
