Trump approves supply to Israel of 2,000-pound bombs, ends Biden’s hold

Biden has put the hold on the delivery of the bombs due to concern over the impact they could have on the civilian population in Gaza

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US President Donald Trump has ordered the end of a hold imposed by former president Joe Biden on the supply of 2,000-pound (907kg) bombs to Israel. Photo: TNS

Published: 9:39am, 26 Jan 2025Updated: 3:20pm, 26 Jan 2025

President Donald Trump has instructed the US military to release a hold imposed by former President Joe Biden on the supply of 2,000-pound (907kg) bombs to Israel, according to a White House source.

The move was widely expected. Biden put the hold on the delivery of those bombs due to concern over the impact they could have on the civilian population, particularly in Gaza’s Rafah, during Israel’s war in the Palestinian enclave.

“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 said on the Truth Social media platform without providing further details.

Trump and Biden have been strong supporters of US ally Israel, even as Washington has come under criticism from human rights advocates over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from Israel’s military assault against the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Protesters have unsuccessfully demanded an arms embargo.

Palestinians walk near destroyed buildings in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. Photo: EPA-EFE

A ceasefire went into effect a week ago and has led to the release of some Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Before his inauguration on January 20, Trump had warned there would be “hell to pay” if hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were not released. Hamas took around 250 hostages during an October 7, 2023, attack on Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed, according to Israeli tallies. It sparked the latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.