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February 17, 2025 | 03:17 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israel received a shipment of heavy MK-84 bombs from the United States (U.S.). The delivery was made after U.S. President Donald Trump lifted the munitions export ban previously imposed by Joe Biden, the Israeli Ministry of Defense said on Sunday, February 16, 2025, as reported by Reuters.
The MK-84 is a 2,000-pound unguided bomb capable of tearing through thick concrete and metal, creating a wide blast radius.
The Biden administration had initially refused to authorize the export of these bombs to Israel over concerns about their impact on densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip. Despite Biden's government sending thousands of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas fighters from Gaza, one of the shipments was later withheld. That hold was lifted by Trump last month.
"The munitions shipment that arrived in Israel tonight, released by the Trump administration, represents a significant asset for the Air Force and the IDF and serves as further evidence of the strong alliance between Israel and the United States," said Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday.
The delivery comes after days of uncertainty over whether the ceasefire in Gaza would hold. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the terms of the agreement meant to halt fighting. The ceasefire was established to facilitate the exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.
Washington has announced billions of dollars in aid for Israel since the war began.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel and the United States were working closely together in Gaza. He also thanked U.S. Senator Marco Rubio for his firm support of Israel's policies in the region.
According to Netanyahu, Israel and the United States under President Donald Trump share the same strategy regarding Gaza. "I want to assure everyone who's now listening to us, President Trump and I are working in full cooperation and coordination between us," he said.
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