Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday expressed his gratitude to US President Donald Trump on Sunday for what he described as providing Israel with “tools” to defend itself. This came after the US president reportedly authorised the transfer of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel.
The US administration under Joe Biden had previously halted the delivery of these heavy munitions last year, voicing concerns over their potential use in densely populated Gaza during a possible Israeli ground offensive, warning such actions could lead to major humanitarian consequences.
“Thank you, President Trump, for keeping your promise to give Israel the tools it needs to defend itself, confront our common enemies, and secure a future of peace and prosperity,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar also commended Trump for what he called a “crucial defence shipment” to Israel, although neither official elaborated on the specifics of the approval.
On Saturday, Trump confirmed that a “lot of things” were now being delivered to Israel, claiming they had been delayed under Biden’s administration. “A lot of things that were ordered and paid for by Israel, but have not been sent by Biden, are now on their way!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Reports suggest Trump directed the defence department to lift the hold placed by Biden on the shipment of heavy bombs. During his presidency, Trump often emphasised his strong support for Israel, calling himself its “best friend in the White House,” a sentiment frequently echoed by Netanyahu.
The relationship between Trump and Netanyahu, however, experienced a strain after Netanyahu congratulated Biden on his 2020 election victory, a move Trump reportedly considered disloyal, given his baseless claims of election fraud.
Meanwhile, a fragile truce in the Gaza conflict, which began after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, continues to hold.
Over the weekend, Israel and Hamas exchanged more hostages and Palestinian prisoners as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise the situation.