A top House Democrat has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s proposed sale of conventional weapons to Israel, citing concerns that the munitions would be used to devastate Gaza.
Representative Gregory Meeks of New York placed a hold on the transaction because he fears Israel’s deployment of these weapons in densely populated areas. The deal involves over 40,000 bombs—each weighing 2,000 pounds—that Israel will effectively purchase using U.S. taxpayer funds through Foreign Military Financing programs.
The weapons include 20,000 MK-84s and 20,000 BLU-117s, among the most destructive conventional munitions in Western arsenals. An MK-84 explosion sends metal fragments for thousands of feet, can penetrate thick concrete, and creates large craters. The bombs kill anything within a 400-yard radius.
Israel has repeatedly deployed these weapons in Gaza and Lebanon, including in areas it designated as safe for civilians. A former U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal technician stated that such bombs can destroy entire buildings if occupied.
The Biden administration previously suspended shipments of MK-84s to Israel during the Gaza war due to concerns about civilian casualties, but President Trump reversed this policy in January 2025. Meeks emphasized: “The Trump administration’s proposed sale of 40,000 2,000-pound bombs raises grave concerns about how these munitions could be used in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon. The Trump administration has not provided sufficient assurances that these weapons will be used by the Netanyahu government in accordance with U.S. law and with appropriate protections for civilians.”
Tucker Carlson, a podcaster and former Trump backer, highlighted the scale of the shipment, comparing it to historical bombing campaigns: 40,000 tons of bombs would exceed seven times the amount dropped during the most destructive single air raid in World War II. Meeks noted his decision does not diminish congressional support for Israel’s defense needs but reflects a responsibility to ensure U.S.-funded weapons are used lawfully and responsibly.