Jim WATSON / AFP
WORLD

Trump says 2,000-pound bombs to Israel now being delivered

Agence France-Presse

Donald Trump said Saturday that a "lot of things" ordered by Israel are now being delivered, following reports that he lifted a hold on 2,000-pound bomb shipments.

"A lot of things that were ordered and paid for by Israel, but have not been sent by Biden, are now on their way!" Trump posted on Truth Social.

The Biden administration had halted the shipments last year amid concerns Israel was preparing a major ground operation in Gaza, which Washington opposed. Biden warned that using the bombs in heavily populated areas would cause "great human tragedy and damage."

Days before leaving office, Biden helped broker a tentative truce between Israel and Hamas to end the war that began with Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The truce held over the weekend, with Israel and Hamas exchanging hostages and prisoners.

Trump's post did not mention specific weapons, but Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported that Trump ordered the Pentagon to release the hold on the bombs.

During his first term, Trump repeatedly boasted that Israel "never had a better friend in the White House," a sentiment echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Their relationship soured temporarily after Netanyahu congratulated Biden on his 2020 election win. Trump, who falsely claimed to have won the election, accused Netanyahu of disloyalty.