Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar praised Donald Trump on Sunday for releasing a “crucial defence shipment” to Israel, after media reported the US president had authorised the sending of 2,000-pound bombs that the Biden administration had halted.

Former president Joe Biden’s administration last year halted shipments of 2,000-pound bombs when it appeared Israel was poised to launch a major ground operation in heavily populated areas of Gaza, particularly in Rafah, a move that Washington opposed.

Biden had warned that use of the munitions in such areas would cause “great human tragedy and damage”.

Last week, Israel and Hamas reached a tentative truce aimed at bringing a permanent end to the war in Gaza, which began with the Palestinian militant group’s October seven, 2023 attack on Israel.

The truce was holding, with Israel and Hamas exchanging a second group of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners over the weekend.

Trump’s post did not mention any specific weapons being sent to Israel.