The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion munitions package for Israel that would include 40,000 heavy 2,000-pound bombs, according to US officials cited by Reuters, raising fresh concerns over the potential impact on Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The proposed package would provide Israel with 20,000 MK 84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, according to a US official familiar with the plan who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. The Washington Post first reported the planned arms transfer.

The proposed delivery comes after months of devastating Israeli military operations in Gaza, where extensive damage to residential areas and civilian infrastructure has accompanied a massive humanitarian crisis.

The scale of the proposed weapons transfer is particularly significant because the bombs involved are among the heaviest conventional munitions in the US arsenal. A 2,000-pound bomb can cause extensive blast and fragmentation damage, making its use in densely populated areas especially consequential for civilians.

For Palestinians in Gaza, the proposed shipment comes as the territory continues to grapple with widespread destruction, displacement and shortages of essential supplies. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned about the dangers faced by civilians amid the ongoing conflict.

The proposed package would also allow Israel to replenish and expand its stocks of heavy bombs after an extended period of warfare, potentially providing additional capacity for future military operations.

The planned transfer has renewed scrutiny of Washington's military support for Israel, particularly given the scale of civilian suffering in Gaza. Critics of US arms transfers argue that providing large quantities of heavy munitions risks enabling further destruction in an area where much of the population is concentrated in a densely populated and heavily damaged territory.

The proposed package has been informally communicated to congressional committees that review major US arms sales. It has not yet been formally approved or delivered, meaning the weapons are not currently part of Israel's battlefield stockpile.

The proposed sale nevertheless underscores the continuing depth of US military support for Israel and its potential consequences for Palestinians as Gaza struggles to recover from the destruction caused by the war. (ILKHA)