The US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has directed the U.S. military to lift a hold on the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, a decision that was anticipated given the ongoing conflict in the region. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, “We released them. We released them today. And they’ll have them. They paid for them and they’ve been waiting for them for a long time. They’ve been in storage.”
The hold on the bomb shipment was initially imposed by President Joe Biden, who expressed concerns about the potential impact of such powerful munitions on civilian populations, particularly in Rafah, Gaza, amid Israel’s military operations. The 2,000-pound bombs are capable of penetrating thick concrete and metal, resulting in a significant blast radius.
Reports indicate that while the Biden administration had previously sent thousands of these bombs to Israel following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants, a specific shipment had been delayed. The U.S. has provided substantial military assistance to Israel since the onset of the conflict, amounting to billions of dollars.
When questioned about his decision to release the bombs, Trump emphasized that Israel had already purchased them, stating, “because they bought them.” He further elaborated on his Truth Social platform, asserting, “A lot of things that were ordered and paid for by Israel, but have not been sent by Biden, are now on their way!”
Both Trump and Biden have historically been strong supporters of Israel, despite facing criticism from human rights advocates regarding the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza as a result of Israel’s military actions. Calls for an arms embargo have been made by protesters, but these have not gained traction in Washington.
The U.S. government maintains that its support for Israel is crucial in countering threats from Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen. A ceasefire in Gaza was implemented a week ago, leading to the release of some Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.
During the 2023 attack on Israel, Hamas took approximately 250 hostages, resulting in around 1,200 fatalities, according to Israeli sources. This incident reignited violence in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza that has reportedly resulted in over 47,000 deaths, according to the Gaza health ministry.
These actions have drawn accusations of genocide and war crimes against Israel, which the country has denied. The conflict has also led to the displacement of nearly the entire population of Gaza and has triggered a severe hunger crisis.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains divided on the appropriate response to the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in the region.
