Kathmandu, September 16. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to provide Israel with weapons worth approximately $2.8 billion, including around 40,000 heavy bombs.
According to U.S. officials, the proposed weapons package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs. Each bomb weighs about 900 kilograms. However, the deal has not yet been finalized.
U.S. lawmakers have reportedly been informally briefed about the proposed arms package.
Former President Joe Biden’s administration had halted the delivery of these bombs in 2024. At the time, the administration expressed concern that the use of 2,000-pound bombs in densely populated areas of Gaza could result in large numbers of civilian casualties.
After Trump returned to the presidency, the restriction was lifted. His administration is now preparing a new arms agreement that would include a large quantity of such heavy bombs.
Some models of the MK-84 and BLU-117 bombs are designed to target underground structures, while others can cause extensive damage over a wide area. Experts who have analyzed videos of attacks in Gaza and bomb fragments recovered from attack sites have said that U.S.-made bombs appear to have been used.
The Trump administration had previously approved billions of dollars worth of arms sales to Israel. Last year, it approved an arms package worth about $3 billion that included more than 35,500 heavy bombs. In January, an additional arms sale to Israel worth $6.67 billion was approved.
On October 7, 2023, an attack led by Hamas in southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage. Israel subsequently launched a military campaign in Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 73,264 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military campaign. The figure also includes people killed after the ceasefire.
Although a ceasefire was reached with U.S. mediation, violence in Gaza has not completely stopped. Attacks by Israel and violent incidents involving Hamas-linked fighters and Israeli soldiers have continued.
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