US Congressman Meeks does not approve $2.8 billion bomb sale to Israel
In the United States, Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he will not currently approve the Donald Trump administration’s plan to sell Israel 40,000 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds each, with a total value of $2.8 billion. The Hill reports.
Meeks, who represents New York in the House of Representatives, said that he supports Israel’s security and its ability to defend itself. At the same time, he expressed concern about risks to civilians amid the large number of deaths in Israel’s wars against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Informal hold
According to Meeks, his decision does not mean a reduction in Congress’s support for Israel’s legitimate defense needs. He stressed that Congress must ensure that US-funded weapons are used lawfully, responsibly, and with appropriate safeguards to protect human life.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Leaders of the relevant House and Senate committees are usually briefed by the State Department on arms sales to foreign states that exceed a specified value. They can impose an informal hold to obtain additional information before a sale proceeds. The State Department usually takes such a decision into account and works with the congressman to address his concerns.
Package composition
According to The Washington Post, the package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, and 20,000 I2000 Penetrator penetrating warheads. The Hill notes that the Trump administration had previously ignored Meeks’s objections: in February 2025, it moved forward with an arms sales package despite an informal hold by Democrats on part of the shipment.
During Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, the Joe Biden administration suspended shipments of 2,000-pound bombs due to concerns over a rising number of Palestinian civilian deaths. The New York Times reported in 2023 that Israel’s use of such munitions posed a threat to civilians in Gaza, including in areas designated for civilians.
