Trump Lifts Ban on Supplying Israel with Heavy Bombs

The Trump administration has issued orders for the US Department of Defense to lift a ban on supplying Israel with 2,000-pound bombs, a restriction that the previous Biden administration had imposed. 

A White House source confirmed the decision to Reuters on Saturday.

The Biden administration had halted the transfer of these heavy bombs due to concerns over their potential impact on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The primary concern was the use of such large bombs in the city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians are seeking refuge.

The decision comes after a recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, though tensions in the region remain high.

An Israeli official told Axios that the Pentagon notified the Israeli government on Friday of the decision to lift the ban. The bombs are expected to be shipped to Israel in the coming days.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions regarding the lifting of the ban. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters in both Israel and the United States had used the Biden administration’s decision to halt the bomb shipments to accuse the US of imposing an "arms embargo" on Israel.

However, the Biden administration has clarified that other weapons shipments have not been halted, rejecting Netanyahu’s comments in June that claimed the U.S. was delaying arms deliveries.