US preparing sale of 40,000 one-ton bombs to Israel, sources say

Congressman Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has voiced his opposition to a proposed $2.8 billion arms deal between the United States and Israel. The committee's ranking Democrat detailed his concerns regarding the potential utilization of the weapons in densely populated regions and compliance with international law.

According to a US official briefed on the matter, President Donald Trump's administration plans to provide Israel with tens of thousands of powerful bombs, approximately 40,000 weighing 2,000 pounds each. Although US arms transactions with Israel are typically subject to informal scrutiny by congressional committee leaders, Meeks' dissent does not automatically halt the process if a national emergency necessitating rapid execution arises.

Prior to the onset of the Israel-Iran conflict on February 28, Trump had circumvented congressional oversight to facilitate speedy military transfers to Israel, capitalizing on his strong rapport with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration. Meeks, who represents New York, affirmed his commitment to Israel's security but articulated apprehensions about the proposed transaction.

He emphasized that the 2,000-pound bombs constitute some of the most devastating munitions within the US arsenal, and significant questions persist concerning their deployment in densely inhabited territories like Gaza and Lebanon.