Top Democrat opposes US sale of heavy bombs to Israel
But the objection is not enough to stop the sale - the Trump administration can still press ahead.
Top Democrat opposes US sale of heavy bombs to Israel
The leading Democrat on a congressional panel that oversees weapons transactions has said he will not endorse a proposed $2.8bn (£2.1bn) arms sale to Israel.
Gregory Meeks said he would not support the transfer of 2,000lb (900kg) bombs to Israel because of concerns they may not be used in line with international law.
The New York congressman’s opposition comes after reports that the US is preparing to provide Israel with 40,000 of what Meeks described as “some of the most destructive munitions in our arsenal”.
Still, his objection is not sufficient to halt the sale - President Donald Trump’s administration can bypass Congress and move forward regardless.
Meeks, the ranking member on the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement that he remained committed to Israel’s security.
However, he said the deal “raises grave, unresolved concerns about how these munitions could be used in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon”.
He added that it reflected Congress’s “responsibility to ensure that US-funded weapons are used lawfully, responsibly, and with meaningful safeguards for human life”.
J Street, a liberal pro-Israel advocacy group, said in a statement to Israeli newspaper Haaretz: “You cannot rebuild Gaza with 2,000lb bombs.”
Lawmakers are notified by the US state department about arms sales above a specified dollar threshold, which gives them the chance to place an informal hold on the deal.
But the president may proceed if he declares that an emergency demands an immediate sale.
To block the weapons transfer, a veto-proof resolution would need to pass with two-thirds support in both the House and Senate.
Israel’s use of General Dynamics-made 2,000lb bombs in Gaza has sparked international outrage because of their devastating impact in densely populated civilian areas.
In 2024, then-President Joe Biden paused a shipment of the bombs to Israel - a decision reversed when President Trump returned to office last year.
The weapons are said to be supplied under Foreign Military Financing, a programme funded by American taxpayers that gives billions of dollars each year to Israel and other allies to purchase US-made weapons.
The US-Israel relationship still enjoys strong bipartisan support, though backing has been weakening among Democrats.
In July, Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie forced a vote on a bill to cut $3.3bn in security aid to Israel, and he won support from 103 Democrats in the chamber. He was the only Republican to back the amendment.