Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC: The Trump administration is planning to sell Israel a $2.8 billion package of munitions, including tens of thousands of 2,000-pound bombs, according to a U.S. official familiar with the proposed sale. The package would include 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, both weighing 2,000 pounds, according to the official.

The proposed sale has been informally communicated to congressional committees that review major U.S. arms transfers, but the deal has not yet been publicly announced by the State Department. The Israeli Embassy in Washington also had not publicly commented on the proposal as of Tuesday.

The planned weapons transfer comes as the United States continues its military and security partnership with Israel amid ongoing conflicts and heightened tensions across the Middle East.

Israel has used similar heavy munitions in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Their use in densely populated areas has drawn scrutiny from human rights experts because of the potential for significant civilian casualties.

The proposed sale also comes amid debate in the United States over Washington’s military support for Israel. Reuters reported that a 2026 public opinion poll found an increasing share of Americans believe U.S. support for Israel has gone too far, with the shift particularly pronounced among Democrats.

The proposed $2.8 billion package would represent a significant addition to Israel’s stock of heavy U.S.-made munitions. However, the plan remains subject to the U.S. arms-sale process and congressional review.

The proposal comes as the wider Middle East remains under heightened military tension following the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran earlier this year and continuing violence in the region.

DHAKA: Bangladesh has strongly condemned Israel’s plan to advance settlement construction in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, saying the move violates international law and threatens prospects for a viable two-state solution.

In a statement issued today, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the planned settlement expansion was contrary to international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The ministry said the proposed construction would further undermine the territorial integrity of the occupied Palestinian territory and diminish prospects for the establishment of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. Bangladesh called on Israel to immediately halt all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Dhaka also reaffirmed its unwavering support for the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish an independent and sovereign State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Bangladesh urged the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent actions that could undermine Palestinian statehood and to advance a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East based on international law and the two-state solution.

“Bangladesh stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine and remains committed to supporting their legitimate aspirations for freedom, dignity, justice and statehood,” the statement said.

Shibbir Ahmed, UN, New York: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in southern Lebanon and urged Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory as Israeli military operations intensify in and around Nabatieh.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres said he was deeply concerned about the escalating Israeli military operations and condemned the mounting civilian casualties, including women and children killed and injured in the attacks. The UN chief also expressed alarm over the displacement caused by evacuation orders and the widespread destruction reported across Nabatieh District.

According to the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, around 5,000 families, or approximately 20,000 people, fled Nabatieh District last week. Healthcare services in the area are also facing increasing pressure as the conflict intensifies. Guterres was particularly concerned by reports of Israeli strikes affecting hospitals, healthcare workers and public institutions, as well as restrictions on humanitarian access.

He stressed that all parties must comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and emphasized that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times.

“Civilians and civilian objects must be protected at all times, and attacks directed against them are unacceptable,” the UN chief said. Guterres called for an immediate end to the hostilities, urged Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory and called on all sides to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also urged the parties to fulfil their obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006 to help establish a lasting cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, reported a sharp increase in Israeli military activity between Thursday and Monday, including ground operations, projectile fire, airstrikes and violations of Lebanese airspace.

UNIFIL detected 528 projectiles fired by the Israel Defense Forces during that period. On Sunday alone, the peacekeeping mission recorded 62 Israeli airspace violations, among the highest daily totals since June. UNIFIL also reported airstrikes in both sectors of its area of operations and north of the Litani River. For the first time since June 21, the mission also detected one projectile fired by Hezbollah on Sunday.

The UN said the deteriorating security situation is further worsening humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL facilitated 13 humanitarian missions between Thursday and Monday in coordination with OCHA, all in its western sector. The Secretary-General said the United Nations remains committed to supporting efforts to end the violence, protect civilians and advance a lasting solution to the conflict.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, D.C.: The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has formally submitted a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review. However, the Trump administration remains firm that Saudi Arabia must normalize relations with Israel and join the Abraham Accords as part of the broader agreement.

Under the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, the agreement is now subject to congressional review. Congress has 90 days to review and potentially reject the agreement. If Congress does not pass a joint resolution of disapproval during that period, the agreement could take effect.

Last month, U.S. and Saudi energy officials signed the agreement in Washington. Under the deal, U.S. companies would be able to participate in the development of Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear program. The proposed agreement could remain in effect for 30 years.

However, the Trump administration’s condition regarding Israel has created new uncertainty over the future of the agreement. Saudi Arabia has long maintained that it would want to see credible progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state before normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The agreement has also raised concerns among some members of Congress and nuclear nonproliferation experts. In particular, there are concerns that allowing Saudi Arabia to pursue uranium enrichment in the future could increase the risk of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

The key issue: The Trump administration wants to advance long-term civilian nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia while linking the agreement to its broader diplomatic goal of normalizing Saudi-Israeli relations. The agreement’s next steps will therefore depend on both Congressional review in Washington and Riyadh’s position on normalization with Israel.