The Trump administration is preparing a new weapons package for Israel that would include thousands of 2,000-pound bombs, powerful munitions whose use in Gaza has drawn scrutiny over their potential to cause extensive destruction and civilian casualties.
The proposed $2.8 billion deal includes 40,000 bombs—20,000 Mk84s and 20,000 BLU-117s—according to two US officials and another person familiar with the plan who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not yet been finalized.
Members of Congress have been informally notified about the proposed sale, which is expected to be financed largely through foreign military financing, allowing Israel to use US government-provided funds to acquire American-made military equipment.
The planned transfer is the latest effort by the Trump administration to expand Israel’s access to US weapons amid its ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Although Washington helped facilitate a ceasefire, fighting has continued in parts of the territory.
The package was previously reported by The Washington Post and comes as Israel faces increased international criticism over its conduct of the war, which followed the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.
The Biden administration suspended one shipment of the 2,000-pound bombs in 2024 over concerns surrounding their use in densely populated areas. Trump later lifted the suspension after returning to the White House.
In 2025, the Trump administration also bypassed the usual congressional review period to approve an arms package worth nearly $3 billion that included more than 35,500 of the same type of bombs. Another set of weapons agreements totaling $6.67 billion was approved in January.
The 2,000-pound bombs are produced in different configurations, including variants designed to penetrate underground targets and others intended for above-ground explosions capable of causing significant damage.
The Israeli military has disclosed limited details about the specific bombs and artillery used during its Gaza operations. However, weapons experts who have analyzed strike footage and recovered remnants from affected areas have identified evidence consistent with the use of US-made bombs. Such weapons have reportedly been used against Hamas tunnel networks but have also caused deaths in heavily populated locations.
The October 2023 Hamas-led attack killed around 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 73,264 Palestinians, including those reported killed after the ceasefire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.