The Trump administration is preparing to finalize one of the largest arms deals with Israel in recent years, valued at nearly $2.8 billion.
Details of the Arms Deal
According to information from a U.S. official, the deal includes the sale of 40,000 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, consisting of 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs. Additionally, 20,000 "I-2000 Penetrator" warheads have also been added to this deal.
Read more: Eight killed as a building collapses in Gaza City
Related committees in Congress have been informally notified of this sale, which may pose a new test for Democrats in Congress, especially given the growing dissatisfaction with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the unprecedented tensions that have arisen between Washington and Tel Aviv.
Humanitarian Concerns and Congressional Pressures
Regarding humanitarian concerns related to the use of these munitions, a senior U.S. official stated: "All foreign arms sales are conducted in accordance with appropriate procedures. We do not comment on ongoing sales." The newspaper covering this issue noted that the volume of this new shipment exceeds previous sales of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel during the presidencies of Joe Biden and Donald Trump. This comes as the $2.04 billion sale, which has passed standard congressional review procedures, is under scrutiny.
A former U.S. Army ordnance disposal technician, referring to the heavy use of these types of bombs by Israeli forces in targeting buildings, said: "If Hezbollah or any other entity is inside a building, the MK-84 bomb will destroy the entire structure."
This bomb was known as "the hammer" during the Gulf War due to its immense destructive power. This particular munition was the only 2,000-pound bomb that the Biden administration prevented from being sent to Israel during the Gaza war, due to concerns about the high number of Palestinian civilian casualties.
The Trump administration continues to seek support from the leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee in order to secure approval for this sale.
Read more: Saudi Arabia warns: Houthi threats jeopardize navigation security in the Red Sea and global trade · Threat to five Palestinian children in the West Bank by Israeli occupiers
