Top Democrat places hold on $2.8 billion weapons sale to Israel

US Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, has placed a hold on a $2.8 billion weapons sale to Israel. According to Haaretz, Meeks cited concerns that the Trump administration failed to assure Congress that Israel would use the weapons in accordance with US law and with adequate protections for civilians. The sale includes tens of thousands of highly destructive 2,000-pound bombs.

Meeks' objection alone is not enough to prevent the sale from going ahead, as Congressional committee leaders review sales under an informal process. The move is part of a wider debate over the use of US military aid to Israel, with Meeks expressing concerns that the munitions would not be used in accordance with international law, as reported by Middle East Eye.

The reports did not provide further details on the status of the sale or any potential next steps. A separate report from Axios, cited by the Daily Times, noted a secret meeting between senior military commanders from the US, Israel, and several Arab countries in Germany, focused on Iran and rising Middle East tensions.

Brief written by urgent.news from Haaretz, Middle East Eye, Daily Times — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.