U.S. President Donald Trump has advanced another major arms sale to Israel, approving over $3 billion in munitions and military equipment despite growing controversy over his administration’s handling of foreign policy. This marks the second multi-billion-dollar weapons transfer in just weeks, both pushed forward without full congressional approval.
The latest sale includes $2.04 billion in munitions, including over 35,000 bombs and 4,000 I-200 Penetrator warheads, a separate $675.7 million deal for 1,000-pound bombs and JDAM kits, and an additional $295 million for Caterpillar D9 bulldozers, according to the U.S. State Department.
Trump’s move comes at a time of intense international scrutiny over Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the uncertain future of the ceasefire negotiations. He has repeatedly deferred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on whether to move forward with peace talks or resume military action. At the same time, he has continued to push his controversial plan for the mass displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, arguing that a U.S.-led administration of the territory is the only viable post-war solution.
The Trump administration bypassed the standard congressional review process to approve the sale, citing “an emergency” that required immediate action in the interest of U.S. national security. A similar maneuver was used earlier in February when Trump fast-tracked an $8 billion weapons deal originally proposed by the Biden administration. These moves have alarmed critics, who argue they undermine long-standing U.S. foreign policy norms and diminish congressional oversight on arms sales.
Senator Bernie Sanders has emerged as one of the most vocal opponents of these sales, filing joint resolutions of disapproval. “Netanyahu has used our bombs to damage or destroy almost 70 percent of the structures in Gaza, including hundreds of schools. All of this has been done in clear violation of U.S. and international law,” Sanders said.
He went further, accusing Trump and Netanyahu of engaging in “ethnic cleansing” by openly discussing plans to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza. “It would be unconscionable to provide more of the bombs and weapons Israel has used to kill so many civilians and make life unlivable in Gaza,” he added.
While Sanders’ previous efforts to block arms sales to Israel gained limited traction, they did receive unprecedented backing from 19 Democratic senators. Republicans, in turn, have used this internal Democratic division to rally support for Israel and paint their opponents as abandoning a key U.S. ally ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, has postponed a planned trip to the region, saying he may travel next week if Israeli negotiators show progress in ceasefire discussions expected to take place in Doha or Cairo.
As the debate intensifies in Washington, Trump’s latest arms deal signals a continuation of his aggressive pro-Israel stance, with little regard for congressional oversight or international criticism. The approval of more U.S. weapons for Israel, particularly as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, is likely to fuel further divisions both in the U.S. and globally.
