US plans to deliver powerful weapons to Israel in $2.8 billion sale: What’s in the package and what it means

The United States administration is set to deliver a $2.8 billion weapons package to Israel, potentially the largest single US sale of munitions to the country in recent years, per The Washington Post. The proposed deal, which has been tentatively communicated to congressional committees, is being endorsed by the administration for final approval. This package would encompass 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, and 20,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads, according to US officials quoted by the Post.

The deal revolves around 2,000-pound-class bombs, among the heaviest conventional munitions in the US arsenal. The package includes:

- 20,000 MK-84 bombs

- 20,000 BLU-117 bombs

- 20,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads

The MK-84 bomb is capable of penetrating thick structures and delivering a large blast and fragmentation effect. The I-2000 penetrator is designed to target hardened structures, while the BLU-117 is a BLU-84 variant with a thermal protective coating. These weapons would likely be procured through the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, meaning US funding would directly support Israel's acquisition of American-made weapons.

The significance of this proposed sale lies in its potential size and the timing. If approved, it would likely surpass previous US transfers of 2,000-pound munitions to Israel. Moreover, this sale becomes particularly noteworthy as the Biden administration temporarily halted one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs in 2024 due to concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza. However, the Trump administration reversed this policy following his return to office in January 2025.

The controversy surrounding 2,000-pound bombs is primarily due to their use by Israel in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Their size and destructive capability have raised concerns about their deployment in densely populated areas.

The transaction has already been informally notified to congressional committees, and the Trump administration is actively pursuing approval from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Given the potential for congressional scrutiny, the path to final approval could be intricate and take considerable time.

This proposed sale underscores the continued US military support for Israel amidst ongoing disagreements between Washington and the Israeli government on various aspects of its regional military operations and broader Middle East policy. The timing is also noteworthy, as it coincides with growing debate in Washington concerning US military assistance to Israel. In July, over 100 House Democrats voted to end US aid to Israel, while Republican lawmakers displayed strong support for continued military aid.