Top Democrat Gregory Meeks opposes Israel bomb sale

U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, announced on Wednesday that he will not support the sale of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. Meeks expressed concerns that the munitions would not be used in accordance with international law, particularly in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion weapons package for Israel that includes 40,000 2,000-pound bombs, according to a U.S. official familiar with the sale. The proposed package comprises 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, and 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads. The transaction would be financed through the Foreign Military Financing mechanism. The proposed sale has been informally communicated to congressional committees, presenting a potential test for Democrats who are increasingly divided over U.S. arms transfers to Israel. The scale of the proposed package surpasses previous U.S. sales of 2,000-pound munitions to Israel under both the Biden and Trump administrations. The MK-84 and BLU-117 are general-purpose bombs, while the I-2000 is designed as a penetrating warhead. The UN Human Rights Office has previously examined Israeli attacks in Gaza involving heavy bombs, raising serious concerns under international humanitarian law regarding distinction, proportionality, and precautions. While congressional committees review sales, Meeks' objection alone is not sufficient to prevent the president from proceeding with the sale.