WASHINGTON – The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said he will oppose the Trump administration’s planned sale of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, citing “grave, unresolved concerns about how these munitions could be used in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon.”
Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-New York, said in a statement on Sept. 16 that 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.”
President Donald Trump has prepared a $2.8 billion munitions package for Israel that includes 40,000 of the 2,000-pound bombs, which Meeks described as “some of the most destructive munitions in our arsenal.”
The decision by Meeks to place a hold on the munitions package is unlikely to prevent the sale, as the Trump administration has ways to circumvent the opposition by declaring that an emergency requires an expedited sale of the weapons.
The proposed package for Israel, which was first reported by The Washington Post, would be the largest sale of 2,000-pound bombs in years. It would be financed by American taxpayers through a process in which the U.S. provides foreign governments with funds to purchase the weapons.
The Biden administration delayed the sale of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel in 2024 amid concerns over how the weapons would be used by the Israeli military in Gaza.
Meeks’ opposition reflects Democratic frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the declining support among American citizens for Israel’s war in Gaza. More than 73,000 people have died in Gaza since October 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
“This decision does not diminish Congressional support for Israel’s legitimate defense needs,” Meeks said. “It reflects Congress’s responsibility to ensure that U.S.-funded weapons are used lawfully, responsibly, and with meaningful safeguards for human life.”