US President Donald Trump has authorised the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, overturning a suspension imposed by the Biden administration last year, officials confirmed.
Israeli officials revealed that “1,800 MK-84 bombs, which were held in storage in the US, will be loaded onto a ship and delivered to Israel in the coming days.”
The Pentagon reportedly communicated the decision to West Jerusalem on Friday, shortly before Hamas released four female IDF soldiers as part of a prisoner swap agreed under the ceasefire of January 15.
The US has long been a staunch supporter of Israel, providing significant military aid, including precision-guided munitions and advanced weaponry.
In May 2024, Washington halted the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs over concerns about their potential use in densely populated areas, such as Rafah in southern Gaza, where many Palestinian civilians were taking refuge during the Israeli invasion.
However, in July 2024, shipments of 500-pound bombs resumed following intense lobbying efforts from Israeli officials.
The 2,000-pound bombs, also known as ‘bunker busters,’ are highly powerful, capable of destroying entire structures upon impact, leaving behind widespread destruction.
Israeli officials had been negotiating with the Trump administration regarding the lifting of restrictions on heavy ammunition.
Mike Herzog, Israel’s outgoing ambassador to the US, said, “They got some things from the Israeli side that allowed the deal to go through, and they gave us some things and will give more going forward.”
He added that Israel expected Trump “to release, at the beginning of his term, the munitions that haven’t been released until now by the Biden administration.”
The decision to lift the hold comes as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 47,000 since the conflict began in October 2023.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that over 13,000 children have died during the 15-month-long Israeli invasion of Gaza in response to a Hamas-led attack inside Israel that claimed the lives of 1,163 people.
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