Trump plans $2.8bn bomb sale to Israel

The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel that includes 40,000 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds each. This proposed transfer represents the largest single sale of such munitions in recent years, according to reports on Tuesday.

The deal utilizes Foreign Military Financing, meaning US taxpayer funds will purchase the weapons for Israel. The package contains 20,000 MK-84 general-purpose bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 variants. It also includes 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads designed to strike hardened underground structures effectively.

The MK-84 is among the most destructive conventional munitions in Western arsenals. Nicknamed the “hammer” by US pilots during the 1991 Gulf War, its blast propels metal fragments thousands of feet. It can penetrate thick concrete and metal while creating large craters in targeted areas.

Israel has used these 2,000-pound bombs extensively in Gaza and Lebanon. Their use has been linked to significant civilian casualties in densely populated areas. Critics note their deployment in zones previously designated as safe for civilians, drawing sustained condemnation from various human rights groups globally.

Former President Joe Biden temporarily suspended shipment of this specific munition in 2024 due to civilian casualty concerns. However, President Trump reversed that pause in his first month back in office. This new proposal exceeds previous transfers under both the Biden and Trump administrations significantly in scale.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen vowed to block the sale, accusing Trump of sending taxpayer-funded bombs to a government led by a wanted war criminal. Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also opposed the deal, stating that American weapons have been used to kill tens of thousands of innocent people recently.

Brian Finucane of the International Crisis Group warned the sale sends a vote of confidence to Israel despite regional tensions. Analysts suggest Israel seeks to lock in unconditional military backing now, wary that future administrations may prove less reliable in providing such expansive support without strict conditions attached.