Trump Lifts Biden’s Ban on Sending 2,000-Pound Bombs to Israel
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he had instructed the U.S. military to release a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, reversing a hold placed during President Joe Biden’s administration.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated that the bombs, which had already been purchased by Israel, were being delivered after delays attributed to concerns raised during Biden’s tenure.
“We released them. We released them today. And they’ll have them,” Trump said. “They paid for them, and they’ve been waiting for a long time.”
The shipment of these powerful bombs had been delayed due to apprehensions about their potential impact on civilians in Gaza’s Rafah area during Israel’s military operations in the Palestinian enclave. The bombs, known for their ability to penetrate reinforced concrete and cause extensive destruction, had attracted scrutiny from human rights organizations.
Reports indicated that the Biden administration had previously authorized thousands of similar bombs to Israel following the devastating October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants, which was described as an Islamic State-style assault. That attack resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths, according to official figures, and involved around 250 hostages being taken by Hamas. However, the Biden administration halted the delivery of one specific shipment, citing humanitarian concerns.
Trump defended his decision to release the weapons, stressing that they had already been purchased by Israel. Earlier on Saturday, he reiterated his stance on social media, stating, “Many items that Israel ordered and paid for, which were held back by Biden, are now being delivered!”
Since the onset of the ongoing conflict, the United States has provided billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, emphasizing the necessity to counter threats from Iran-backed groups such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen.
Both Trump and Biden have shown strong support for Israel, although Washington has begun to face increasing criticism from human rights advocates regarding the humanitarian impact of the conflict in Gaza. Protests have erupted across the United States and internationally, calling for an arms embargo against Israel.
A temporary ceasefire took effect last week, resulting in the release of several Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Despite this truce, tensions remain elevated in the region as the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to incite violence.
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