The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion munitions sale to Israel that would include tens of thousands of 2,000-pound bombs, according to a U.S. official familiar with the proposed package.
Reuters reported that the planned sale has been informally communicated to congressional committees that review major arms transfers. The package is expected to include 20,000 MK 84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs.
The State Department and the Israeli embassy did not immediately comment on the proposed transaction. The plan comes as U.S. public support for Israel has declined during the conflict that followed the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza.
The heavy bombs included in the proposed sale have been used by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon and have drawn scrutiny from rights experts because of their destructive power. Gaza health authorities say more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s campaign. Israel rejects allegations that its conduct amounts to genocide and says its military actions are in self-defence.
The proposal also comes against the backdrop of the wider regional conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has killed thousands and displaced millions since U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran began in February.
Source: Reuters
