US Gives More ‘Bunker Buster’ Bombs to Israel, Used in Jabalia Refugee Camp, for War on Hamas – News18

The US gave Israel ‘bunker buster’ bombs and an array of other munitions for its war against Hamas on the Gaza Strip, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The report said that Washington transferred 100 BLU-109 bombs to Israel. These bombs can penetrate hardened structures like buildings before exploding.

These bombs carry warheads which weigh more than 900 kgs. These bombs were used by the US during its conflict in Afghanistan. The US has given regular updates regarding the weapons its has supplied to Ukraine during the ongoing 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war but has remained tight-lipped regarding the kind of weapons it is sending Israel for use in the ongoing 2023 Israel-Hamas war.

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The report by the The Wall Street Journal pointed out that US sent 15,000 bombs and 57,000 155mm artillery shells which were transported through C-17 military cargo planes.

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The US has sent Israel over 5,000 unguided Mk82 bombs, more than 5,400 Mk84 bombs, about 1,000 GBU-39 small-diameter bombs, and approximately 3,000 JDAMs, a guidance kit that turns unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions.

It should be noted that the US sends billions of dollars to Israel each year in the form of financial assistance for army operations.

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The WSJ report also pointed out that the US-made large bombs were used in several strikes, including the one that decimated the apartment block in the Jabalia refugee camp, killing more than 100 people. Israel said it carried out the attack to eliminate one Hamas leader.

Israel has resumed aerial bombing of Gaza and Hamas has claimed that 200 people have died following the end of the weeklong temporary truce.

Hamas terrorists broke through Gaza’s militarised border into Israel, killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped around 240, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas in response and unleashed an air and ground campaign that has killed more than 15,000 people, also mostly civilians, the Hamas authorities who run Gaza claim.

But in a diplomatic breakthrough, both sides agreed to a seven-day truce, during which Hamas freed 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners, and more aid entered Gaza.