The Trump administration is planning to deliver a $2.8 billion arms package to Israel that includes 40,000 heavy bombs, according to reports detailing the upcoming deal. The pending sale comprises 20,000 Mk84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, each weighing 2,000 pounds, alongside 20,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads.
Trump Administration Advances $2.8 Billion Arms Package for Israel
Congress has been informally notified about the transaction, which is not yet final. According to U.S. officials and a person familiar with the plan who spoke on condition of anonymity, most of the package is to be paid for using foreign military financing, a mechanism where U.S. taxpayer funds are provided to Israel to purchase weapons from the United States. An administration official told AFP that foreign arms sales were moving through the appropriate process, while a State Department spokesperson stated the department does not comment on proposed sales before formal notification to Congress.
Weapons History and Civilian Impact Concerns
The inclusion of 2,000-pound munitions recalls weapons that prompted concerns regarding potential mass casualties in Gaza, leading the Biden administration to pause a shipment of the heavy bombs two years prior in 2024. After taking office, President Donald Trump allowed that previously paused shipment to proceed.
The 2,000-pound bombs feature multiple variants designed either to penetrate deep underground targets or detonate above ground to cause widespread damage. Human rights groups and various governments have previously criticized the use of these weapons in densely populated areas due to their wide blast radius. Although the Israeli military has provided few details regarding specific ordnance used, experts analyzing strike footage and on-site blast fragments believe U.S.-made bombs have been deployed in Gaza against tunnel networks utilized by Hamas.
Broader Context of U.S.-Israel Military Support
The proposed $2.8 billion sale follows a series of military support actions by the Trump administration to enhance Israeli military capacity. Last year, the administration bypassed a normal congressional review process to approve a nearly $3 billion sale that included more than 35,500 bombs, followed by a new series of arms sales totaling $6.67 billion in January. In February 2025, the administration also approved over $7.4 billion in bombs, missiles, and related equipment, including MK-84 munitions.
The package emerges as Israel faces increasing international isolation over its military operations in Gaza, which were initiated in response to the deadly October 7, 2023, attacks led by Hamas. That initial attack killed approximately 1,200 people with 251 individuals taken hostage. Retaliatory military offensives by Israel have killed more than 73,264 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Diplomatic Relations and Continuing Conflict
The arms deal indicates that certain strains in the relationship between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—particularly following the launch of the war against Iran in February—have not disrupted the alliance. Trump previously expressed frustration tied to the Iran conflict prior to a July meeting with Netanyahu at the White House.
While the U.S. brokered a fragile ceasefire that took hold in October and led to a reduction in the heaviest fighting, violence and strikes have continued. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and a key Middle East negotiator, met with Netanyahu to push the ceasefire forward and request reduced attacks. Meanwhile, Israel maintains that its ongoing strikes respond to ceasefire violations and shooting attacks directed at Israeli troops by militants.