Trump lifts Biden’s hold on 2000-pound bombs for Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump announced he had directed the Pentagon to release a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, overturning a hold placed by his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden.

The bombs stored in the U.S. had been withheld by Biden amid concerns about their use in Gaza and the potential for civilian casualties.

“We released them. We released them today. And they’ll have them. They paid for them and have been waiting for them for a long time,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Israel uses these bombs, especially for the destruction of buildings.

The MK 84, which is used extensively by the Israeli Air Force in Lebanon and Gaza, is a highly lethal munition with a very high lethal area, which has caused dozens of civilian casualties in many of its attacks and is a “very lethal” munition to use when targeting buildings in residential areas.

Biden’s concerns over civilian impact

The Biden administration initially imposed a hold on the delivery of these powerful munitions, citing concerns about their potential impact in densely populated areas of Gaza, including Rafah.

Each bomb, capable of penetrating thick concrete and causing significant destruction, raised alarms over the humanitarian consequences.

In 2023, it was reported that Biden had sent thousands of such bombs to Israel following the October 7 Hamas attack but withheld one shipment because of these concerns.

Trump’s justification, policy

When asked why he authorized the release of the bombs, Trump stated, “Because they bought them.” Earlier, he posted on Truth Social, “A lot of things that were ordered and paid for by Israel but have not been sent by Biden are now on their way!”

Trump’s move aligns with his broader pro-Israel stance, shared by Biden, despite criticism from human rights advocates over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Donald Trump is expected to take steps to strengthen Israel’s hand in the region and pursue a pro-Israel policy during his term in office.