Israel receives MK-84 bomb shipment from U.S.

Israel has received a shipment of heavy MK-84 bombs from the United States, after U.S. President Donald Trump lifted a block imposed on the munitions by the previous administration of President Joe Biden, the defence ministry said.

According to the defence ministry statement, the shipment arrived. Video distributed alongside the written statement showed cranes uploading what were said to be shipping containers carrying the bombs onto trucks in Israel's Ashdod port.

The MK-84 is an unguided 2,000 pound bomb which the Biden administration declined to clear for export to Israel out of concern over its likely effect in hitting densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip.

This development underscores the enduring strength of the U.S.-Israel alliance, with the U.S. providing substantial military support to Israel. The decision to lift the export block reflects a shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Trump, emphasizing a more robust military partnership with Israel.

The Biden administration sent thousands of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants from Gaza but had put a hold on one shipment. The hold was lifted by Trump last month.

Meanwhile U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Iran was "the single greatest source of destabilization and violence on the planet."

Rubio reiterated the United States' commitment to bring back home all the remaining hostages kept by Hamas in Gaza, stressing the issue "remains a very strong priority."

Top U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a united front against their common enemies, threatening to "open the gates of hell" on Hamas and "finish the job" against Iran.

"We discussed Trump's bold vision for Gaza's future and will work to ensure that vision becomes a reality," Netanyahu said.

The comments came a day after Hamas freed three Israeli hostages in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners — the sixth such swap under the ceasefire deal, which the United States helped mediate along with Qatar and Egypt.