Axios: Ban on Sending 2000-Pound Bombs to Israel Lifted

According to Axios, the White House has instructed the Pentagon to lift a ban imposed by the Biden administration on sending 2000-pound bombs to Israel. This action follows repeated requests from Israel and comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Biden's decision last May to halt the shipment of a consignment of 2000-pound bombs marked one of the biggest crises in U.S.-Israel relations during the 15-month Gaza war. The Biden administration had objected to Israel's attack on the Rafah area with this decision, but it became a political symbol used by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to rally Republican support against Biden. Israeli officials stated that the Pentagon informed the Israeli government on Friday about the decision to lift the ban on sending these bombs. According to the report, 1,800 MK 84 bombs stored in U.S. warehouses will be loaded and sent to Israel in the coming days. The Biden administration was concerned that the use of these bombs in densely populated Gaza would lead to widespread civilian casualties. This decision drew criticism from the American Jewish community, which largely leans Democratic. However, this action failed to garner support from progressive critics of Biden's policies toward Israel. Mike Herzog, Israel's ambassador to the United States, who will soon leave his position, stated in an interview with Axios that it was expected that Donald Trump would lift the ban on these munitions at the beginning of his term. He said, 'We believe that Trump will release these munitions that have not yet been freed by the Biden administration.' An American official: The United States resumes sending heavy bombs to Israel. Israeli Defense Minister on the eve of his trip to Washington: Relations with the United States are more important than ever. Netanyahu: Biden's decision to limit arms shipments to Israel is unacceptable.