A shipment of 1,800 MK-84 2,000-lb bombs from the United States arrived in Israel overnight after being previously held up by the Biden administration, Israel’s Defense Ministry announced Sunday. The munitions were unloaded at Ashdod Port and transported to Israeli airbases.
Defense Minister Israel Katz welcomed the delivery, calling it a “significant asset” for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and a testament to the strong U.S.-Israel alliance. Katz thanked former President Donald Trump for lifting the hold on the shipment shortly after taking office.
Weapons Shipments and U.S. Policy Shifts
Since the start of the war in October 2023, Israel has received over 76,000 tons of military equipment from the U.S., including via 678 transport planes and 129 ships. While the Biden administration initially rushed military aid to Israel, it later slowed the process, requiring standard approval for each transfer.
In May 2024, Biden’s White House withheld a shipment of 1,800 2,000-lb bombs and 1,700 500-lb bombs, citing concerns over Israel’s military operations in densely populated Gaza. The 500-lb bombs were later released in July after Palestinian civilians largely evacuated Rafah.
Despite warnings in October 2024 that Israel must address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza or risk losing U.S. military support, the Biden administration did not follow through on withholding further shipments.
Last month, Trump reversed Biden’s hold on the 2,000-lb bombs, allowing the latest shipment to proceed.
