The United States administration is preparing a $2.8 billion package to supply Israel with 60000 2000-pound bombs, including MK-84, BLU-117 and I-2000 models. The sale, funded largely through American taxpayer-supported financing, follows nearly three years of conflict in Gaza and operations in Lebanon.
What weapons form the proposed US package to Israel?
The reported package includes 20000 MK-84 bombs, 20000 BLU-117 bombs and 20000 I-2000 Penetrator bombs. The MK-84 is an unguided 2000-pound general-purpose bomb intended for blast and fragmentation effects against buildings and protected targets. It can destroy buildings and kill or injure people hundreds of metres from the bomb site. The BLU-117 shares similar weight and role but includes a thermal protective coating and can accept guidance kits. The I-2000 is designed as a penetrator to reach hardened structures before detonation, with substantially thicker and harder casing than an MK-84.
According to the source material, the total value reaches $2.8 billion, with the majority covered by the US Foreign Military Financing program. A senior administration official stated that foreign arms sales follow standard processes, while the State Department noted it does not comment on proposed sales until formal notification to Congress. The Trump administration has not officially confirmed the sale yet. This follows an earlier pause under Biden and subsequent approvals under Trump that bypassed usual congressional review for more than 35500 similar bombs. In 2024 the Biden administration paused delivery of some 2000-pound-class bombs amid international criticism over civilian deaths. Trump ended that pause after returning to office and approved a nearly $3bn sale including more than 35500 such bombs. A further $6.67bn package was approved in January.
When has Israel used similar 2000-pound bombs in the past?
Israel has employed 2000-pound-class bombs in the region for at least four decades. In 1981, such munitions were used in the Osirak operation against an Iraqi nuclear site. The following year, they were dropped during operations in Lebanon and Syria, resulting in high civilian casualties according to historical accounts. Research cited in the source indicates that a 2000-pound blast affects everything within roughly 35 metres and creates craters averaging 15 metres across and 5 metres deep.
Since October 2023, reports describe more frequent use in Gaza, including an October 31 strike on the Jabalia refugee camp that left a large crater and killed civilians. The UN human rights office described that incident as potentially constituting a war crime. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in November 2024. Washington has ridiculed the court’s jurisdiction. Civil defence teams documented cases where Palestinians effectively evaporated in blasts, leaving only blood spray or fragments, linked by experts to US-manufactured MK-84 and BLU series munitions. An Al Jazeera investigation recorded 2842 such cases since the war began, with experts attributing the effect to high-temperature weapons including the MK-84 and BLU series. Vasily Fatigarov explained that aluminium, magnesium and titanium powders raise explosion temperatures to between 2500 and 3000 degrees Celsius.
How significant is the scale of 60000 bombs?
The 60000 bombs total 54400 tonnes. This mass equals the steel framework of the Empire State Building or seven times the iron structure of the Eiffel Tower. It exceeds the 1600 tonnes used in the 1945 Tokyo firebombing and approaches the total tonnage dropped on Berlin during World War II, or roughly one-third of all bombs that fell on Japan’s home islands.
The source notes that US munitions stockpiles have faced strain from operations against Iran and supply demands linked to the conflict in Ukraine. A Pentagon watchdog report released on Monday highlighted bottlenecks in production and procurement. The report stated the Pentagon is working to streamline procurement processes and production lead times and to stockpile critical materials. President Trump wrote on Truth Social that the US is producing more Exquisite and Elite Weapons than at any time in our History. The US-Israel war on Iran, which started in late February with the assassination of then Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is widely unpopular in the US, with President Trump’s approval ratings dipping. A June Quinnipiac University poll found 48 percent of voters and 66 percent of Democrats believe the US is too supportive of Israel.
What reactions have US figures expressed?
Commentator Tucker Carlson described the actions in Gaza as genocide and criticised further shipments, writing that the 40000 new bombs the Trump administration is sending will be used to do the same in Lebanon. Senator Chris Van Hollen stated he would seek to block the sale, citing payments to a government led by a wanted war criminal. Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote that American tax dollars should not support the killing of civilians and that we did not vote for this.
A Quinnipiac University poll from June found 48 percent of voters and 66 percent of Democrats believe the United States is too supportive of Israel, up from 16 percent and 20 percent when first asked in 2017. News of the sale has been condemned by figures on both sides of the political spectrum in the US. Carlson added that extending the Iran war indefinitely would be the result of continued shipments.
Frequently asked questions
Has the sale been formally confirmed?
US officials have not issued an official confirmation. Reports indicate the administration has informally notified Congress and is moving through standard review processes.
Who pays for the weapons?
The majority of the cost is covered by the US Foreign Military Financing scheme, drawing on American taxpayer funds.
What is the I-2000 bomb designed to do?
The I-2000 is a hard-target penetrator intended to pass through reinforced structures before exploding.
Have similar bombs been used in Gaza before?
Yes. Reports document multiple instances since October 2023, including strikes on densely populated areas such as the Jabalia refugee camp.
What is the reported effect radius of these bombs?
Research cited indicates severe damage or injury within approximately 35 metres of detonation, with crater dimensions averaging 15 metres wide and 5 metres deep.
Key takeaways
The proposed package contains 60000 2000-pound bombs valued at $2.8 billion.
Three bomb types are listed: MK-84, BLU-117 and I-2000 Penetrator.
Financing comes primarily from US Foreign Military Financing.
Similar munitions have been used in prior regional operations since the 1980s.
US officials and lawmakers have voiced both support and opposition.
Outlook
The reported arms package arrives while US munitions inventories remain under pressure from multiple theatres. Congressional review processes and public statements from lawmakers suggest further debate is likely before any final delivery.
