Trump White House ends Biden’s pause on 2,000-pound bombs shipments for Israel

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

President Donald Trump's White House instructed the US military to release a supply of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, reversing a hold by the previous administration, sources told news organisations on Saturday.

The move was widely expected under Mr Trump's leadership, who has proclaimed support for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. White House officials told Reuters and Bloomberg News about the decision.

Axios cited Israeli sources and said the weapons would be sent within a couple of days.

Mr Trump appeared to confirm further shipments with a post 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.”

Former US president Joe Biden put a hold on the delivery of those bombs over concerns about Israel's potential use on densely-populated areas in its war with Hamas in Gaza.

It was the first time the US imposed restrictions on its military support for Israel, but the Biden administration still sent other weapons.

His concern was over the use of such large bombs in the city of Rafah, where Israel announced military operations in an area where more than one million Palestinians in Gaza had taken refuge in May 2024.

Even with the US halting the heavy bombs and with a continued Israeli invasion, Rafah has been significantly damaged. Taysir Muhaysin, Government Media Office spokesman in Gaza, told The National that the city is “unfit for habitation”.

“The Israeli war on Gaza has devastated most buildings and infrastructure in Rafah,” he said in November, adding that the city “would need to be rebuilt from scratch to become liveable again”.

The hold on the weapons became an issue in US-Israeli relations at one point when Mr Netanyahu accused Washington of “withholding” military support. The Biden administration said they had only paused one shipment and continued other US aid or military sales.

A ceasefire to halt the war was recently agreed and two exchanges involving hostages and prisoners have been conducted this month as part of the Israel-Hamas deal.