https://aoav.org.uk/2025/aoav-condemns-u-s-sale-of-massive-ordnance-air-blast-moab-bomb-to-israel/
AOAV condemns U.S. sale of massive ordnance air blast (MOAB) bomb to Israel
By AOAV on 9 Feb 2025
The decision by the United States to sell its most powerful non-nuclear bomb, the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), to Israel marks a dangerous escalation in the militarisation of an already volatile region. Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) unequivocally condemns this move, warning that it sets a deeply troubling precedent for the use of indiscriminate and devastating weaponry in one of the most fragile geopolitical landscapes in the world.
Reports indicate that the Trump administration has approved the sale of these 11-tonne bombs, capable of leveling vast areas and destroying underground bunkers, as part of a wider strategy to bolster Israeli military capabilities. The timing of this sale, at a moment of heightened tensions with Iran, raises grave concerns about the risk of further escalation and potential pre-emptive strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.
2003 image of the testing of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB)
The Consequences of the MOAB in Urban Warfare
The MOAB, sometimes referred to as the “Mother of All Bombs,” was originally designed for use in open combat zones, where its colossal blast radius can devastate enemy positions without significant collateral damage to civilian areas. However, its potential use in the Middle East—a densely populated and politically fraught environment—brings alarming ethical and humanitarian implications.
AOAV has long documented the impact of explosive weapons in populated areas, demonstrating time and again how such weapons lead to disproportionate civilian harm. The indiscriminate nature of high-yield bombs like the MOAB contradicts fundamental principles of international humanitarian law (IHL), which requires the proportional and discriminate use of force. The deployment of such a weapon in a region already suffering from cycles of violence and displacement would be catastrophic for civilians, exacerbating instability and undermining efforts toward peace.
A Step Toward Further Militarisation
The decision to arm Israel with the MOAB follows a troubling pattern of unchecked militarisation in the region, with arms sales prioritised over diplomatic resolutions. Successive U.S. administrations had refused to provide Israel with such high-yield munitions due to the potential consequences of their use. That this restriction has now been lifted represents a reckless departure from responsible arms control policies.
Moreover, this sale is not an isolated incident. It follows a series of measures that have emboldened Israel’s military posture, including the transfer of bunker-busting munitions, continued arms exports, and unwavering political support for its military operations. These decisions reinforce a cycle of militarised responses to political disputes, rather than fostering avenues for negotiation and conflict resolution.
The international community cannot remain silent in the face of such escalatory policies. AOAV calls on governments, humanitarian organisations, and civil society to oppose this sale and demand greater accountability in the transfer of arms to conflict zones. The unchecked flow of explosive weapons into the Middle East has time and again resulted in civilian suffering, displacement, and the destruction of infrastructure vital for long-term peace.
We urge policymakers to reconsider the dangerous precedent this sale sets and to uphold the principles of arms control that prioritise human security over militarisation. The deployment of the MOAB in any context outside of conventional warfare risks inflicting untold devastation, and its sale should be unequivocally condemned.
The global community must work toward de-escalation and conflict prevention, rather than continuing down a path that prioritises military dominance at the expense of human lives.