Representative Gregory Meeks has announced he will not support a proposed $2.8bn arms sale that would send 2,000lb (900kg) bombs to Israel, citing concerns about unlawful use in densely populated Gaza and Lebanon. Although politically significant, Meeks's objection cannot alone block the transfer: the Trump administration could proceed by declaring an emergency. The bombs are reported to be supplied under Foreign Military Financing, and similar munitions have drawn international condemnation for their impact on civilians.
Top House Democrat Refuses to Back $2.8bn Sale of 2,000lb Bombs to Israel
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Representative Gregory Meeks, the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has said he will not support a proposed $2.8 billion arms sale that would supply 2,000lb (900kg) bombs to Israel. Meeks cited serious concerns that the munitions could be used in ways that violate international humanitarian law, particularly in densely populated areas.
Why Meeks Opposes the Sale
Meeks, a New York lawmaker and the committee's ranking member, said the reported transfer raises "grave, unresolved concerns about how these munitions could be used in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon." He stressed Congress's responsibility to ensure that U.S.-funded weapons are used lawfully and with meaningful safeguards to protect civilian life.
"Congress must ensure that US-funded weapons are used lawfully, responsibly, and with meaningful safeguards for human life," Meeks said in a statement.
Process And Political Context
Under current procedures, the State Department notifies Congress of proposed arms sales above a statutory threshold, allowing lawmakers to raise objections or place an informal hold. However, the president can proceed by declaring an emergency that requires an immediate sale. To block the transfer outright would require a veto-proof joint resolution passed by two-thirds of both the House and the Senate.
The White House under President Donald Trump retains the authority to sidestep congressional objections and press ahead with the sale if it asserts an emergency. In 2024, then-President Joe Biden paused a shipment of similar 2,000lb bombs to Israel; that decision was later reversed after President Trump returned to office.
Reports, Reactions, And Funding
Media reports have claimed the US plans to supply as many as 40,000 of what Meeks described as "some of the most destructive munitions in our arsenal." The bombs in question are manufactured by General Dynamics, and their use in Gaza has drawn international condemnation because of their devastating impact in densely populated civilian areas.
The proposed transfer is reported to be funded through Foreign Military Financing (FMF), a U.S. program that provides allied nations with taxpayer-funded credits to purchase American-made weapons.
The BBC has contacted the Israeli Embassy for comment. Advocacy group J Street told Haaretz, "You cannot rebuild Gaza with 2,000lb bombs."
Broader Political Landscape
The U.S.-Israel relationship continues to enjoy broad bipartisan support, but backing among Democrats has softened in some quarters. In July, Representative Thomas Massie forced a House vote on an amendment to cut $3.3 billion in security aid to Israel; 103 House Democrats supported that amendment, and Massie was the only Republican to back it.
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