Three Israeli officials told Axios today (Saturday) that the Trump administration has lifted its hold on 2,000-pound aerial bombs for Israel, which had been in place for months under the Biden administration.
Another Israeli source confirmed this to Channel 14 reporter Tamir Morag, who speculated that the delay in the release of the hold - which was erroneously reported during the week - was due to the administration waiting for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be approved by the Senate.
After a difficult and contentious Senate fight, including allegations of spousal abuse by Hegseth and the defection of Senators Mitch McConnel, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski, Hegseth was confirmed by the Senate 51-50, with Vice President Vance providing the tie-breaking vote.
The Biden administration originally imposed the hold on heavy bombs to prevent Israel from entering into Rafah - an operation which eventually led to the elimination of Hamas leader and October 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar - on the grounds that it caused too heavy civilian casualties.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried repeatedly to get the Biden administration to lift the hold, arguing that these weapons were necessary for the IDF to finish the job. The hold also came amidst growing international calls for a full-scale arms embargo on Israel based on criticism of its war in Gaza, with some in the Netanyahu administration even calling that hold an "arms embargo."
In talking with Prime Minister Kier Starmer regarding the release of British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari, Netanyahu asked that Starmer end the freeze on 30 arms licenses imposed months ago on the grounds of potential human rights violations. Starmer said that they would conduct an inquiry into the matter.
Both Secretary of State Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are outspoken friends of Israel, and Rubio has already lifted all personal sanctions on settlers and settler leaders and organizations imposed by the Biden administration.
UPDATE: Michael Shemesh of Kann News says that some of the bombs are being held in US Army warehouses in Israel and will soon be delivered to the IDF.
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