US Lawmaker Places Hold on $2.8 Billion Arms Sale to Israel

A senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Gregory Meeks, has placed an informal hold on a proposed $2.8 billion arms sale of heavy munitions to Israel. The deal, which includes 40,000 bombs weighing approximately 900 kilograms each, was reportedly nearing finalization.

Meeks cited "serious, unanswered concerns" regarding how Israel might use these munitions in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon. He stated that the Trump administration had not provided sufficient assurances that the Netanyahu government would adhere to U.S. law and protect civilian populations. "Therefore, at this stage, I will not clear this transaction," Meeks declared, emphasizing that this action reflects Congress's responsibility to ensure the lawful and responsible use of U.S.-funded weapons.

Despite Meeks's objection, the sale is not definitively blocked. The Trump administration has only informally notified lawmakers. Following official notification to Congress, Secretary of State Marco Rubio could potentially bypass standard review procedures if he deems the arms transfer an urgent national security matter. This mechanism has been used previously, including for nearly $3 billion in arms sales to Israel last year and another $6.67 billion in January.

The proposed package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs. Israel plans to finance a significant portion of the deal using U.S. military aid. Notably, the Biden administration had previously suspended the supply of 900-kilogram bombs in 2024 due to concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza, a restriction that was lifted upon Donald Trump's return to the White House. The current proposed shipment significantly exceeds previous deliveries of this ordnance class.

The State Department has not yet commented on the proposed sale or Meeks's action.