Bessent defends Trump economic policies, reveals plans to meet Chinese official

The Trump administration is set to deliver 2,000-pound bombs worth $2.8 billion to Israel, as part of a forthcoming arms deal that recently prompted the Biden administration to halt their delivery two years ago due to worries about mass casualties in Gaza. The package, consisting of 20,000 Mk84s and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, includes a variety of variants, some designed to penetrate underground targets and others designed to cause extensive damage on the surface.

The deal, which is not yet finalized, will largely be funded through a foreign military financing program, enabling Israel to purchase the weapons using U.S. taxpayer money. This move is seen as part of the Trump administration's broader effort to bolster Israel's military capabilities. The conflict in Gaza has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and devastated the enclave, although a fragile ceasefire was brokered by the U.S. However, violence has persisted since then.

This package, which was previously reported by The Washington Post, arrives as Israel faces growing international isolation due to its war in Gaza in response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. Despite some strains in the relationship between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly over the Iran conflict, the U.S.-Israeli alliance remains close.

The Trump administration had previously lifted a hold on one shipment of the bombs when he assumed office, and last year, they bypassed a standard congressional review process to approve a $3 billion sale to Israel, which included over 35,500 of these bombs. The 2,000-pound bombs, while not extensively detailed by the Israeli military, are believed by experts to have been used in Gaza, targeting Hamas tunnel networks but also causing civilian casualties.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to conduct strikes in the territory, even after meetings between Jared Kushner and Netanyahu to encourage a reduction in attacks. While militants have retaliated against Israeli forces, Israel claims its strikes are in response to ceasefire violations. The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in 2023 resulted in around 1,200 deaths and the kidnapping of 251 people.

Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed over 73,264 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire.