US Allocates $21.7B in Military Aid to Israel Amid Gaza Conflict

Washington, Oct 7 (AP) — In a detailed investigation, new academic studies have highlighted that since the onset of the Gaza war two years ago, the United States, under the administrations of both Presidents Biden and Trump, has extended at least USD 21.7 billion in military assistance to Israel. This revelation comes as the world marks the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which triggered the conflict.

In addition to this, another study by the Costs of War project at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs estimates that the US has expended approximately USD 10 billion more on security aid and operations throughout the broader Middle East over the past two years.

Despite relying heavily on open-source information, these reports provide one of the most comprehensive analyses of US military assistance to its close ally, Israel, and the costs of America's direct military engagement in the Middle East.

The State Department has yet to comment on the military aid figures released since October 2023. The White House has directed inquiries to the Pentagon, which is responsible for overseeing a portion of these assistance efforts.

Interestingly, these reports have surfaced amid President Donald Trump's push to bring the Gaza conflict to an end. Indirect discussions between Israeli and Hamas officials have commenced in Egypt, following Hamas's acceptance of certain elements of a US proposal which Israel has also shown support for.

Critically, the reports, which have been noted for their starkly critical view of Israel, argue that without US assistance, Israel's sustained campaign against Hamas in Gaza would not have been feasible. They also highlight projections of additional tens of billions of dollars earmarked for Israel under various bilateral agreements in the future.

Specifically, the main report outlines how the US allocated USD 17.9 billion to Israel in the first year of the conflict, during Democratic President Joe Biden's term, and another USD 3.8 billion in the second year. While some of the military assistance has already been delivered, the remainder is scheduled for future provision.

This report was developed in cooperation with the Washington-based Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, an organization that has faced accusations from some pro-Israel groups of being isolationist and anti-Israel—claims that the institute vehemently denies.

A second report examining US expenditure on Middle Eastern activities such as operations against Yemen's Houthi rebels and in Iranian regions, estimates these costs to be between USD 9.65 billion and USD 12 billion since October 7, 2023. Notably, this includes costs between USD 2 billion and USD 2.25 billion for operations in Iran and related expenses in June. (AP) SKY SKY

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