The Trump administration is preparing to supply Israel with 2,000lb bombs under a significant arms agreement, reviving weaponry that the previous administration had halted over fears of mass casualties in Gaza.
According to two US officials and an individual familiar with the plan, the $2.8 billion package comprises 40,000 munitions, specifically broken down into 20,000 MK-84s and 20,000 BLU-117s. The details were revealed on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity due to the deal not yet being finalized.
The delivery of these powerful explosives prompted such concern among Biden administration officials two years ago that they temporarily paused shipments. The current move marks a shift in policy regarding the provision of heavy ordnance to the Middle Eastern ally.
Twenty thousand heavy munitions is a massive escalation. Did anyone actually assess the potential impact on civilian safety before greenlighting this?
Reversing the pause just two years later is staggering. This feels like ignoring the very reasons the bombs were restricted in the first place.