Republican President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he has instructed the US military to release a hold imposed by former Democratic President Joe Biden on the supply of bombs to Israel. The measure was widely expected.
“We released them. We released them today. And they will have them. They paid for them and have been waiting for them for a long time. They are stored”
Donald Trump, aboard Air Force One
Biden suspended the delivery of these bombs due to concerns about the impact they could have on the civilian population, particularly in Rafah, Gaza, during Israel’s war in the Palestinian enclave.
A nearly one-ton bomb can tear through thick concrete and metal, creating a wide blast radius.
Reuters reported last year that the Biden administration had sent thousands of bombs to Israel following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Palestinian Hamas militants from Gaza, but had suspended one shipment.
Washington has announced assistance to Israel worth billions of dollars since the start of the war.
When asked why he dropped the powerful bombs, Trump responded, “because they bought them.”
Earlier on Saturday, Trump said on the Truth Social platform: “Many things that were ordered and paid for by Israel, but were not sent by Biden, are now on the way!”
Trump and Biden have been strong supporters of Israel, even as Washington has been criticized by human rights advocates over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to Israeli military strikes. Protesters have unsuccessfully demanded an arms embargo.
Washington says it is helping Israel defend itself against Iranian-backed militant groups such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
The ceasefire in Gaza came into force a week ago and has led to the release of some Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Before his inauguration on January 20, Trump had warned there would be “hell to pay” if hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were not released.
Hamas took about 250 hostages during the 2023 attack on Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed, according to Israeli counts. It triggered the latest bloodshed in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel’s subsequent military assault on Gaza killed more than 47,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies. It also displaced almost the entire population of Gaza and caused a famine.
This content was originally published in Trump provides nearly one-ton bombs to Israel on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil

Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.