The Trump administration is preparing to authorize a $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel, which will encompass tens of thousands of powerful 2,000-pound bombs. This package reportedly includes 20,000 MK 84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, as disclosed by a US official familiar with the transaction.

The proposed sale has been informally shared with congressional committees responsible for reviewing significant arms deals. Meanwhile, neither the State Department nor the Israeli embassy has issued an immediate response to inquiries about the sale.

Public support in the United States for Israel has notably declined since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in 2023, especially among Democratic voters. A June poll by Quinnipiac University revealed that 48 percent of all voters and 66 percent of Democrats believe the US is excessively supportive of Israel, a sharp increase from 16 percent and 20 percent respectively when the question was first posed in 2017.

The 2,000-pound bombs included in the sale have been frequently deployed by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon, raising concerns among human rights advocates. Gaza health authorities report that over 73,000 Palestinians have died during Israel’s military operations. A United Nations investigation concluded that Israel committed acts amounting to genocide in Gaza, a charge Israel denies.

Israel maintains that its military actions are acts of self-defense following a deadly October 2023 attack by Hamas-led militants, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and the capture of more than 250 hostages.

In a significant escalation, the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases. These exchanges, along with Israeli operations in Lebanon, have caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions across the region.