Politics
Top House Democrat blocks Trump's $2.8bn arms sale to Israel
September 17, 2026 at 02:57 AM
Coverage
4 reports · 2 in Arabic, 2 in English · over 8 hours
SNSky News Arabia
نائب ديمقراطي كبير: لن أوافق على بيع قنابل أميركية لإسرائيل
(opens the publisher’s site)
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
قنابل أمريكية بأكثر من ملياري دولار لإسرائيل تثير غضبا في الكونغرس
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Top Democrat Gregory Meeks opposes US sale of heavy bombs to Israel
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Key House Democrat refuses to clear Trump’s $2.8bn arms sale to Israel
(opens the publisher’s site)Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee, has placed a hold on the Trump administration's planned $2.8 billion sale of 40,000 heavy bombs to Israel.
- Meeks announced the hold on a package covering 40,000 MK-84, BLU-117, and I-2000 penetrator bombs funded through US Foreign Military Financing.
- Meeks said the administration had not provided sufficient assurances that the weapons would be used in accordance with US law and with appropriate protections for civilians.
- Senator Chris Van Hollen said he would work to block the deal, accusing Trump of sending taxpayer-funded bombs to a government he called led by a war criminal.
- The administration has cleared or expedited over $12 billion in arms for Israel since Trump took office, and Meeks said the pace has outrun congressional oversight.
- Meeks's hold is not legally binding, and the Trump administration can still circumvent Congress and proceed with the sale.
- The sale reverses a 2024 pause by then-President Joe Biden, which Trump lifted after returning to office.