The US has allocated a record-breaking $17.9 billion in military aid to Israel over the past year, following the escalation of violence in Gaza, which started on October 7, 2023.
This unprecedented level of funding, detailed in a report from Brown University’s Costs of War project, marks the largest annual aid package Israel has ever received from the US.
The funds have been primarily used to support Israel’s military operations against Hamas in Gaza and related conflicts in the wider Middle East region.
The report also highlights an additional $4.86 billion in US military operations, including naval interventions aimed at protecting shipping routes in the region from threats posed by Houthi forces in Yemen.
As the conflict surpasses its one-year anniversary, the financial and human toll of the war continues to rise, with no clear resolution in sight.
Record military aid amid Middle East conflicts
Since the start of the Gaza war, the US has funnelled $17.9 billion in military aid to Israel, marking a historic high.
This comes as Israel wages an intensive military campaign against Hamas, which has escalated into the deadliest conflict between Israelis and Arabs since 1949.
More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli retaliatory strikes, with over 1,500 Israelis losing their lives, mostly in the initial Hamas attack.
The financial support from the US has been primarily focused on bolstering Israel’s military defences and ensuring it remains equipped to handle the multifaceted conflict in Gaza, Lebanon, and other neighbouring regions.
Along with the aid provided directly to Israel, the US has also spent approximately $4.86 billion on other military operations in the region.
This includes increased naval deployments aimed at safeguarding key shipping lanes, particularly from threats posed by Houthi forces in Yemen, who have aligned themselves with Hamas.
These operations form part of the broader US strategy to protect its interests in the region and support Israel in its fight against multiple adversaries.
Longest and deadliest Arab-Israeli conflict since 1949
The current war between Israel and Hamas, now entering its second year, is the longest and deadliest conflict between Israelis and Arabs since the end of the 1949 Arab-Israeli war.
The human cost has been staggering, with over 40,000 Palestinian casualties, primarily in Gaza, and thousands more deaths in Lebanon, where Israel has expanded its military strikes against Hezbollah fighters.
This expansion into Lebanon, combined with Iran’s support of Hamas, underscores the widening scope of the war, with no sign of resolution in the near future.
According to the Brown University report, the US has historically been Israel’s biggest military benefactor, providing over $251.2 billion in military aid since 1959, adjusted for inflation.
The $17.9 billion allocated since October 7, 2023, marks a record for the largest single-year military aid package Israel has ever received.
This aid package includes funds for arms sales, military financing, and the transfer of surplus US military equipment to Israel, further cementing the close military alliance between the two nations.
Unseen costs and political division
Despite the massive financial support, the full extent of US aid to Israel remains unclear.
Researchers involved in the Brown University report have suggested that the Biden administration has taken steps to obscure the true value and specifics of military equipment shipped to Israel, making it difficult to provide a complete estimate.
This issue, combined with the controversial nature of the conflict and its civilian casualties, has sparked debate within the US, particularly during the ongoing presidential campaign.
Nevertheless, President Joe Biden has maintained that his administration has done more to support Israel than any previous government.
As the conflict shows no sign of abating, experts predict that US military aid to Israel will continue to rise.
With Israel’s military actions expanding into Lebanon and increasing tensions with Iranian-backed forces, the financial burden on the US is expected to grow, potentially surpassing the $17.9 billion already spent.
The ongoing costs of naval operations in the region and heightened security measures also indicate that the US commitment to supporting its allies in the Middle East will not wane anytime soon.
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