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Journalism of Courage
This is an archive article published on January 26, 2025
Trump approves delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, undoing Biden’s pause
The bombs, capable of penetrating thick concrete and creating large-scale destruction, were previously held back by Biden administration due to concerns about their potential impact on civilians.
President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has ordered the US military to lift a hold placed by former President Joe Biden. (AP Photo)
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has ordered the US military to lift a hold placed by former President Joe Biden on the supply of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel.
“We released them. We released them today. And they’ll have them. They paid for them and they’ve been waiting for them for a long time. They’ve been in storage,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, as reported by Associated Press (AP).
The bombs, capable of penetrating thick concrete and creating large-scale destruction, were previously held back by the Biden administration due to concerns about their potential impact on civilians, particularly in Gaza’s Rafah during Israel’s recent war in the Palestinian enclave.
According to AP reports, Biden had initially sent thousands of such bombs to Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli territory, which left 1,200 people dead and resulted in 250 hostages being taken. However, one shipment had been held back due to humanitarian concerns.
When asked about his decision to release the bombs, Trump said, “Because they bought them.” Earlier on the same day, he stated on Truth Social, “A lot of things that were ordered and paid for by Israel, but have not been sent by Biden, are now on their way!”
Since the conflict began, Washington has pledged billions of dollars in aid to Israel. While both Trump and Biden have expressed strong support for Israel, the US has faced criticism from human rights organisations over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with protests calling for an arms embargo proving unsuccessful.
The recent fighting in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack, has caused widespread devastation. Gaza’s health ministry reports that over 47,000 people have been killed in Israeli military strikes, and nearly all of Gaza’s population has been displaced, sparking allegations of genocide and war crimes, which Israel denies.
(with inputs from AP)
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