The Trump administration has approved a nearly $3 billion arms deal with Israel, bypassing the usual congressional review process. This deal will supply Israel with more 2,000-pound bombs that have been used in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

The State Department sent notifications to Congress late Friday, confirming the approval of the sale. The deal includes over 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs, as well as 4,000 Predator warheads, valued at $2.04 billion. The U.S. State Department has approved Israel's purchase of Caterpillar D9 Bulldozers and related equipment for about $295 million. These bulldozers, made by a company based in Irving, Texas, are expected to be delivered starting in 2027. Additionally, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency has confirmed a munitions sale to Israel worth approximately $675.7 million. The equipment will be produced by Repkon USA in Tampa, Florida and The Boeing Company in St. Charles, Missouri, with deliveries set to begin in 2028.

This arms deal comes just as the first phase of a ceasefire—pausing 15 months of war, allowing the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza—is set to end on Saturday. Both sides seem willing to keep their truce while negotiators from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar work on talks to move things forward. The next phase was supposed to be planned weeks ago, but discussions were delayed. The first six weeks of the ceasefire faced challenges, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of breaking the agreement. Under the truce that started on January 19, the second phase requires Hamas to release all remaining living hostages from its attack on October 7, 2023. In return, Israel would release more Palestinian prisoners, agree to a lasting ceasefire, and withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip.

So far, over the past six weeks, Hamas has released 33 hostages, both alive and deceased, in exchange for more than 1,700 Palestinian prisoners. Currently, Hamas still holds 59 captives, with 32 of them believed to be dead. Israel is now trying to extend the first phase of the truce to secure the release of more hostages.