US President Donald Trump’s administration is planning to sell to Israel a munitions package worth $2.8 billion, which will include tens of thousands of highly destructive 2,000-pound bombs, according to a US official familiar with the sale.

The planned sale, which has been informally communicated to relevant congressional committees who weigh in on large arms sales, includes 20,000 MK 84 and 20,000 BLU-117 2,000-pound bombs, the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.

News of the package was first reported by The Washington Post, which added that the sale also includes a package of 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads.

Asked about the pending sale, a senior White House official told the paper that “all foreign arms sales are moving through the appropriate process. We do not comment on pending sales.”

The Israeli embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The 2,000-pound bombs have been regularly used by Israel in Gaza as well as in Lebanon, drawing scrutiny from rights experts, who argue that they cause widespread damage that endangers civilians when used in urban areas, as they are capable of........

© The Times of Israel