Trump administration to sell 40,000 heavy bombs to Israel

Israel would receive 40,000 2,000-pound bombs under a proposed $2.8 billion US weapons package being prepared by President Donald Trump’s administration, according to a US official familiar with the plan.

The proposed sale includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs and the same number of BLU-117 bombs, the official said. The details have been informally shared with congressional committees that examine major US arms deals.

The Washington Post first reported the proposed sale. The US State Department and the Israeli Embassy have not commented on such reports.

The planned shipment comes amid the use of heavy bombs by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon. Israel has regularly used 2,000-pound bombs to target people in Gaza. The proposed deal is also emerging amid a change in US public opinion over Washington’s support for Israel.

A Quinnipiac University poll conducted in June found that 48pc of US voters believed their country is providing too much support to Israel. The proportion is considerably higher among Democrats, at 66pc.

The figures marked a significant change from when Quinnipiac first asked the question in 2017. At that time, only 16pc of voters and 20pc of Democrats said the US was too supportive of Israel.

According to Gaza health authorities, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military. A UN inquiry confirmed that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.