With the start of the implementation of the hostage deal about 2 weeks ago, the United States began to partially lift the arms embargo it imposed on Israel. As a result, 70 D9 bulldozers arrived in Israel today (Tuesday).
According to security sources, 134 D9 bulldozers in total, in addition to 1700 heavy bombs were purchased by Israel about 10 months ago and have now been released for shipment to Israel.
Last October, the Biden administration approved a halt on weapons to Israel as a means of pressuring the government to allow trucks with humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
Security officials emphasize the operational importance of the bulldozers in the fighting in the Gaza Strip. According to them, these heavy engineering tools play a critical role on the battlefield, as they can open traffic routes, pave roads for the fighting forces, and expose IEDs. Moreover, the bulldozers are designed in such a way that they can survive impacts from IEDs and get out of them unscathed.
The security sources add that if these bulldozers had been available during the recent fighting, it would have significantly reduced the number of soldiers injured by IEDs. The deal, which was signed about 10 months ago, was originally intended to supply the IDF with 130 bulldozers for operational activity in the Gaza Strip, but was delayed due to the American embargo.
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