U.S. Approval of Bulldozers, Bombs Sale to Israel Sparks Fears of Renewed Gaza Offensive

The U.S. approved the sale of D9 Caterpillar bulldozers, 35,000-plus bombs and guidance kits on an emergency basis to Israel, sparking fears of a renewed offensive in Gaza besides extending Israel's recent occupation of land belonging to Syria.

On February 28, the U.S. approved the emergency sale worth $3.01 billion to Israel, bypassing the usual Congressional review process. The U.S. Secretary of State authorized the sale under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, citing national security concerns. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on February 28, 2025, about three separate Foreign Military Sales to Israel.

The largest sale, valued at $2.04 billion, includes over 35,500 MK 84 or BLU-117 bomb bodies and 4,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2026, with primary contractors including General Dynamics and McAlester Army Ammunition Plant.

A second sale, worth $675.7 million, provides 5,000 KMU-559 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits and thousands of 1,000-pound bomb bodies. Delivery will begin in 2028, with Boeing among the key suppliers.

The third sale, valued at $295 million, involves D9R and D9T Caterpillar bulldozers, with deliveries expected by 2027. Caterpillar Inc. is the primary contractor.

The arms transfer has raised concerns of an expanded Israeli military offensive in Gaza. It also coincides with Israel's continued occupation of Syrian territory.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements about Gaza have added to these concerns. Trump proposed that the U.S. should take control of the Gaza Strip, describing plans to redevelop the area while permanently displacing Palestinians. The proposal, unveiled during a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month, has been widely criticized by Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia.

“I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza. I think that Gaza has been very unlucky for them. They’ve lived like hell,” Trump said. “Gaza is not a place for people to be living, and the only reason they want to go back, and I believe this strongly, is because they have no alternative.”

Trump suggested the U.S. would permanently take ownership of Gaza. “I do see a long-term ownership position,” he said. “Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent.”

Outlining his plan, Trump said, “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out. Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area...”

The proposal contradicts international law, longstanding U.S. policy, and the two-state solution framework. 

Trump’s plan involves several violations of international law: forced deportation, classified as a war crime and crime against humanity; blocking the right of return, with Trump insisting Palestinians' expulsion will be permanent; and seizing property, a direct breach of fundamental legal principles. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is about land—but not in the way Trump sees it.