Estados Unidos prepara la venta a Israel de 40.000 bombas de casi una tonelada muy destructivas

The United States administration, under President Donald Trump, is preparing to sell Israel a package of weapons worth $2.8 billion, which includes tens of thousands of highly destructive 2,000-pound bombs, according to a U.S. official familiar with the operation, cited by The Washington Post. The anticipated sale, which has already been informally communicated to relevant congressional committees overseeing major arms sales, includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, the official stated on condition of anonymity.

Neither the U.S. State Department nor the Israeli Embassy responded immediately to a request for comment. Public support for Israel in the United States has decreased since the start of the 2023 Gaza war, particularly among Democrats. A June Quinnipiac University survey found that 48% of voters and 66% of Democrats believe the U.S. supports Israel too much, compared to 16% and 20%, respectively, when the question was first posed in 2017.

The bombs weighing over 900 kilograms have been frequently used by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon, raising concerns among human rights experts. Over 73,000 Palestinians have died in the Israeli military campaign, according to Gaza health authorities. A UN investigation concluded that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, an accusation Israel rejects.

Israel claims its actions were a matter of legitimate self-defense following an October 7, 2023 attack, in which militant groups led by Hamas killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages. The U.S. and Israel also attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with attacks on Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf. U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, along with Israeli strikes in Lebanon, have caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people.