US Prepares $2.8 Billion Bomb Sale to Israel

The United States government is preparing to approve a significant arms deal worth $2.8 billion to sell approximately 900-kilogram bombs to Israel. This potential sale, reported by The Washington Post, includes 40,000 bombs, specifically 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, and 20,000 I-2000 bunker-buster warheads. This transaction would be the largest single sale of this type of munition to Israel in recent years and would be funded by U.S. aid.

These specific types of heavy bombs have been a point of contention between the U.S. and Israel previously. The Biden administration halted one shipment in the spring of 2024 due to concerns about their use in densely populated areas of Gaza. However, the report suggests that if Donald Trump returns to the White House in January 2025, he would reverse this freeze.

The Trump administration is reportedly working with the leadership of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee to expedite the approval process for this deal. The delivery of such a large order could span several years. A senior administration official told The Washington Post that all arms sales to foreign countries undergo the appropriate review process, declining to comment on specific ongoing deals.

This sale comes amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, where the use of heavy munitions in urban environments has drawn international scrutiny. The U.S. has historically been a major supplier of military equipment to Israel, though it has also placed conditions on certain sales due to humanitarian concerns.