This month, the administration of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance reportedly removed a restriction halting the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. Representatives for the Israeli government were reportedly notified of the decision on Friday, January 24. One day later, Trump said “a lot of things” are “now on their way.”
“A lot of things that were ordered and paid for by Israel, but have not been sent by Biden, are now on their way,” Trump wrote.
The Trump-Vance administration’s decision veers away from previous Biden-Harris era policies. Last February, the Biden-Harris administration requested a letter from Israeli officials assuring the U.S. that all weapons made in the U.S. were being used by Israel Defense Forces in Gaza in accordance with international law. Israel oblige and signed a letter assuring the U.S. that the IDF was using its weapons in accordance with international law.
Three months later, White House officials grew concerned about Israel’s invasion of Rafah and how Israel planned to meet he humanitarian needs of civilians in the area. As a result, the United States halted a shipment of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel. Six months later, the Trump-Vance administration reportedly plans to deliver 1,800 MK-84 bombs to Israel “in the coming days.”
