President Donald Trump’s administration was preparing a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel that would include 40,000 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds (907 kilogrammes) each, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.
The proposed package included 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs and 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads. The weapons would be purchased with US taxpayer funds.
The MK-84 was among the most destructive conventional munitions in Western military arsenals. Its blast could propel metal fragments thousands of feet, penetrate thick concrete and metal and create large craters.Israel had used 2,000-pound bombs extensively in Gaza and Lebanon, where their use had been linked to significant civilian casualties. Israel also faced criticism over the use of MK-84 bombs in areas it had designated as safe for civilians in Gaza.
