U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to lift the Biden administration's freeze on the supply of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel in his first days in office, Walla News reported

Israel anticipates that President Trump will lift the Biden administration’s hold on the supply of 2,000-pound bombs during his first days in office, outgoing Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Mike Herzog told Axios.

Why it matters: President Biden’s decision to suspend the delivery of a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs last May marked one of the most significant crises in U.S.-Israel relations during the 15-month Gaza war.

Zoom in: While the hold was primarily a symbolic gesture rather than a military operational issue, it became a flashpoint in the political landscape. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the situation to galvanize Republican opposition to Biden.

• The Biden administration withheld the shipment to protest Israel’s invasion of Rafah, citing concerns that the use of the 2,000-pound bombs in Gaza’s densely populated areas could result in substantial civilian casualties.
• Netanyahu and his allies in Israel and the U.S. used the hold to falsely claim there was a U.S. “arms embargo” on Israel.
• Biden’s decision drew criticism from the largely Democratic-leaning U.S. Jewish community while failing to quell progressive dissatisfaction with his broader support for Israel.

What they’re saying: “We believe that Trump is going to release, at the beginning of his term, the munitions that haven’t been released until now by the Biden administration,” Herzog told Axios in an interview.

The big picture: The release of the bombs is one of several actions the Israeli government expects from Trump in the coming days and weeks regarding U.S. policy toward Israel and the Gaza conflict, according to Israeli officials.

Some of these measures have been discussed between Israeli officials and Trump’s team in the context of Israel agreeing to make further concessions as part of the Gaza hostage and ceasefire negotiations.