World
Trump Administration Plans $2.8 Billion Bomb Sale to Israel
The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion sale of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. This proposed sale, the largest of its kind in recent years, includes 40,000 bombs: 20,000 MK-84 general-purpose bombs and 20,000 BLU-117s, which are thermally coated variants of the MK-84. The package also contains I-2000 Penetrator warheads, designed for striking hardened, underground structures. This funding is provided through Foreign Military Financing, a mechanism where Washington supplies funds for Israel to purchase US weapons.
Reports from the Washington Post and AFP news agency indicate that the MK-84, known as the “hammer” by US pilots during the first Gulf War, is considered one of the most destructive munitions in Western arsenals. It can disperse metal fragments over hundreds of meters and penetrate thick concrete. Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson stated that an American-made Mark 84 has a destruction radius of half a mile and can collapse apartment buildings, leaving craters thirty-five feet deep.
The deal has been informally communicated to congressional committees. A senior administration official commented that "all foreign arms sales are moving through the appropriate process," while the State Department declined to comment on proposed sales before formal notification to Congress. Israel has previously used 907kg bombs in Gaza and Lebanon, including in areas designated as safe for civilians, which has drawn criticism from rights groups. Former US President Joe Biden's administration had paused a single such shipment in 2024 due to concerns about civilian casualties, a pause that was reversed by Trump in his first month back in office.
The sale comes amidst increasing tension between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and growing bipartisan concern in Washington regarding unconditional military support. Senator Chris Van Hollen stated his intention to block the sale, criticizing Trump for "sending bombs paid for by American taxpayers to a government led by a wanted war criminal." Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also expressed opposition, stating, "We did not vote for this. America does not support this. Our tax dollars and weapons have been used to kill tens of thousands of innocent people." Carlson referred to the package as "a gift" to the Israeli government, urging senators and US lawmakers to block the deal. Brian Finucane, senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, noted that the sale "sends a vote of confidence to Israel," even if unintended, at a time when the administration aims to stabilize the region. Analysts suggest the timing may be deliberate on Israel's part, seeking to secure extensive US military backing now, anticipating that a future administration might be less unconditionally supportive.