US Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, is obstructing a Trump administration proposal for a $2.8 billion bomb sale to Israel.
Meeks said he will not clear the transaction due to concerns that these 2,000-pound munitions will not be used in accordance with US and international law.
Despite his concerns, Meeks said in a statement that he remains “firmly committed to Israel’s security and its ability to defend itself against serious regional threats.”
The 15-term congressman, known for his pragmatic and moderate stances, voiced concern about the potential sale of 40,000 of these bombs, which he described as “some of the most destructive munitions in our arsenal.”
Ranking Member @RepGregoryMeeks announced he will not clear the Trump administration’s proposed $2.8 billion sale of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel due to concerns that those munitions would not be used in accordance with U.S. and international law. pic.twitter.com/g6mwNvUTOF
— House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems (@HouseForeign) September 16, 2026
The proposal, he added, raised questions “about how these munitions could be used in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon.”
Israel has said its use of American munitions is always in compliance with US and other relevant laws.
If Democrats are able to retake the House majority in November, Meeks would then become the chairman of the committee in January.
While individual congressional committee members do not have unilateral power to prevent an arms sale, they are able to place a “hold” on a transaction in order to acquire more information.
“The Trump administration has not provided sufficient assurances that these weapons will be used by the Netanyahu government in accordance with US law and with appropriate protections for civilians,” Meeks said.
This decision, he explained, does not weaken Congressional backing “for Israel’s legitimate defense needs.”
“It reflects Congress’s responsibility to ensure that US-funded weapons are used lawfully, responsibly, and with meaningful safeguards for human life,” Meeks added.
More than two years ago, in April 2024, Meeks announced that he would block the sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel if he did not receive “assurances” as to the intended purposes of these jets.
At the time, he told CNN that he had “enough of the indiscriminate bombing” and wanted to prevent Israel from utilizing weapons to create more deaths.
Source: Agencies