Key facts
- The Trump administration plans to sell Israel $2.8 billion in munitions, including 40,000 bombs.
- The package includes 20,000 MK-84 and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, each weighing 2,000 pounds.
- The sale is funded in part by US taxpayers through foreign military financing.
- The Biden administration had previously paused delivery of similar bombs due to concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza.
- Commentators have criticized the deal, citing humanitarian concerns and the nature of the conflict in Gaza.
The Trump administration is planning to sell Israel a $2.8 billion munitions package, including 40,000 bombs, according to US officials and people familiar with the plan. The package includes 20,000 MK-84 and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, each weighing 2,000 pounds. These munitions have previously raised concerns about their potential to cause mass casualties in Gaza, leading the Biden administration to pause their delivery two years ago. The proposed sale, which is not yet final, has been informally notified to Congress. Most of the sale is to be funded by US taxpayers through foreign military financing. This move is part of a series of steps by the Trump administration to bolster Israel's military capacity amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths. Commentators have criticized the deal. For instance, former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson questioned the justification for the sale, suggesting Israel is not engaged in a conventional war but rather attempting to exterminate civilians. Journalist Glenn Greenwald implied the deal is a repayment of debts to pro-Israel donors. Experts analyzing footage from Gaza believe US-made bombs have been used in the conflict, potentially causing widespread damage in densely populated areas.