Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Sep 16: The Donald Trump administration is planning a $2.8-billion arms package for Israel that would include 40,000 2,000-pound bombs, according to US officials.

The proposed package includes 20,000 Mk84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, according to two US officials and another person familiar with the plan. The proposal has been informally communicated to congressional committees but has not yet been finalised.

Most of the package would be financed through the US Foreign Military Financing programme, under which US assistance enables Israel to purchase American-made weapons. The proposed sale is part of a series of measures by the Trump administration to expand Israel's military capabilities.

The planned delivery has drawn attention because the Biden administration had paused the shipment of similar 2,000-pound bombs in 2024 over concerns about their potential use in densely populated areas of Gaza. Trump later lifted that hold after returning to office.

The proposed package comes amid the continuing Gaza conflict and a fragile ceasefire. The heavy munitions are designed for different purposes, including striking hardened or underground targets and producing extensive blast effects.

The latest proposal follows earlier major US arms transfers to Israel under the Trump administration. The proposed package would add a substantial quantity of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel's military inventory as the Gaza conflict continues to draw international scrutiny.

The conflict began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage, according to figures cited by AP. Israel subsequently launched its military campaign in Gaza. Gaza's Health Ministry has reported more than 73,000 Palestinian deaths since the start of the conflict.