One of Washington’s most prominent pro-Israel Democrats has refused to clear a proposed $2.8 billion US weapons sale to Israel, raising concerns that 40,000 heavy bombs could threaten civilian lives in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon.
WASHINGTON — September 17, 2026
Representative Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he would not approve the Trump administration’s proposed transfer at this stage.
The package includes 40,000 2,000-pound bombs and would represent one of the largest US arms transfers to Israel during President Donald Trump’s second term.
Meeks stressed that his decision did not represent opposition to Israel’s security.
Instead, he said the administration had failed to provide sufficient assurances that the weapons would be used in accordance with US law and with adequate protection for civilians.
Weapons designed for enormous force
The proposed package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, according to reporting on the planned transaction. Both weigh approximately 2,000 pounds — close to one metric tonne.
Weapons of this size can cause extensive destruction, making their use in densely populated urban environments particularly controversial.
The Biden administration paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs in 2024 because of concerns about potential civilian casualties in Gaza. Trump lifted that restriction after returning to the White House.
A hold, but not necessarily a veto
Meeks’s position is significant because senior members of congressional foreign-affairs committees traditionally review major weapons transactions before the administration formally notifies Congress.
His refusal therefore places a hold on the normal informal process.
But it does not give him an absolute veto.
Once formally notified, Secretary of State Marco Rubio could use an emergency determination to bypass the normal congressional review period if the administration concludes that immediate delivery serves US national-security interests. The Trump administration used that mechanism last year for a nearly $3 billion Israeli arms package.
A politically significant objection
Meeks’s intervention is notable because he has long supported Israel’s security and again emphasised that position when announcing his decision.
His objection is focused instead on how the weapons might be used.
That places the debate around a fundamental question in American foreign policy: whether supporting an ally’s military capabilities should be conditional on stronger guarantees concerning civilian protection and compliance with US and international law.
Israel maintains that its use of American munitions complies with applicable US and international law.
For the Trump administration, the proposed sale demonstrates continued military support for Israel.
For Meeks, it has become a test of congressional oversight.
The dispute is therefore not simply about 40,000 bombs.
It is also about who controls the conditions under which American weapons are transferred — and how much scrutiny should accompany weapons capable of causing enormous destruction when they are used in densely populated areas.
Newshub Editorial in North America – 17 September 2026