Israel receives shipment of US heavy bombs after Trump unblocks process

(Patria) - Israel has received a shipment of heavy MK-84 bombs from the United States, after US President Donald Trump lifted a blockade on the export of munitions imposed by the administration of his predecessor Joe Biden, the Israeli Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

Trump said he lifted the Biden-era blockade on the export of bombs to Israel despite a ceasefire agreement being in effect because he believes in "peace through strength", Reuters reported.

"They contracted for the weapons a long time ago with the Biden administration, and then Biden didn't want to deliver the weapons. But I see it differently. I say, 'peace through strength'," Trump told reporters on Sunday.

"They were sitting there. Nobody knew what to do with them. They bought them."

The MK-84 is an unguided 907 kg bomb, capable of penetrating thick concrete and metal, creating a wide blast radius.

The Biden administration refused to approve them for export to Israel over concerns about their impact on densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip. The Biden administration sent thousands of these bombs to Israel after the attack by Palestinian Hamas militants from Gaza on October 7, 2023, but later halted one of the shipments. Trump lifted the hold last month.

"The shipment of munitions that arrived in Israel tonight, announced by the Trump administration, represents a significant acquisition for the air force and the IDF and serves as additional proof of the strong alliance between Israel and the United States," Defence Minister Israel Katz said late on Saturday.

The shipment arrived after several days of concern over whether the fragile Gaza ceasefire agreed last month would hold, after both sides accused each other of violating the terms of the agreement to halt the fighting.

Washington has announced billions of dollars in aid to Israel since the start of the war.