US plans to supply Israel with $2.8 billion in powerful weapons: What’s in the package and what it means | Today’s news
The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel, which could become the largest US munitions sale to Israel in years, according to The Washington Post.
The proposed package has been informally shared with congressional committees, and the administration is pushing for approval.
The package is expected to include 20,000 MK-84 and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, along with 20,000 I-2000 penetration warheads, according to US officials cited by the Post. The deal is not yet final and still faces a congressional approval process.
What’s in Israel’s $2.8 billion arms package?
The proposed deal focuses on the 2,000-pound class bombs, which are among the heaviest conventional munitions in the U.S. arsenal.
20,000 I-2000 penetration warheads
The MK-84 can penetrate strong structures and produce a large impact and fragmentation effect. The I-2000 is designed for hardened targets, while the BLU-117 is a variant of the MK-84 with a thermal protective coating.
The weapons would be largely financed through the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, meaning that US funds would be used by Israel to purchase American-made weapons.
Why is the proposed sale significant?
If approved, the package would be significantly larger than previous US transfers of 2,000 pounds of munitions to Israel.
The proposed move is also notable because the Biden administration suspended one shipment of the 2,000-pound bombs in 2024 due to concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza. Trump reversed this policy upon his return to office in January 2025.
Why are 2,000 pound bombs controversial?
These weapons have been used by Israel in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, according to reports from the Post and Reuters. Their size and destructive power have raised concerns about their use in densely populated areas.
what next
The transaction has been informally reported to congressional committees, and the Trump administration is seeking approval from the leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Congressional review could become an important stage in determining whether the proposed transfer goes ahead as planned.
What does this mean for US-Israeli relations?
The proposed sale points to continued US military support for Israel, even as Washington and the Israeli government remain at odds over aspects of its regional military operations and broader Middle East policy.
The timing is also significant, as the proposed sale comes amid growing debate in Washington over US military aid to Israel. More than 100 House Democrats voted in July to end US aid to Israel, while Republican lawmakers remained broadly supportive.
