The U.S. has committed a record $17.9 billion in military aid to Israel since the Gaza war began one year ago, according to a new report.
The report, from Brown University’s Costs of War project, was released on the one-year anniversary of Hamas launching a coordinated attack on Israel, leading to a full-scale military confrontation.
This funding represents the largest amount of military assistance provided to Israel in a single year, significantly surpassing previous totals.
In addition, the U.S. has spent $4.86 billion on operations in the Middle East to support Israel and counter regional threats from Iranian-backed groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis.
Israel’s offensive has killed nearly 42,000 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. Almost 100 people held hostage on Oct. 7 are still unaccounted for.
The researchers called the $4.86 billion cost to the U.S. an “unexpectedly complicated and asymmetrically expensive challenge.”
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The U.S. aid package includes replenishing Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems, providing artillery shells, and sending precision-guided bombs.
All costs were calculated by Linda J. Bilmes, a professor at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, who have assessed the costs of all U.S. wars since 9/11.
She was accompanied by researchers William D. Hartung and Stephen Semler.
According to the study, much of this assistance is designed to help Israel counter ongoing missile strikes and protect its civilian population from attacks.
As the U.S. continues its support for Israel, the Biden administration has faced domestic criticism over the amount of aid being sent.
With growing casualties in Gaza and Lebanon, the conflict’s financial and humanitarian toll remains a divisive issue in the United States, especially as the 2024 presidential election looms.
Despite the vast sum of money spent, the report noted that this $17.9 billion figure is likely an underestimate.
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The Biden administration has been less transparent with Israel’s aid compared to its military assistance to Ukraine, according to the study’s researchers.
The report also highlighted the administration’s bureaucratic efforts to conceal the full extent of aid provided to Israel, which has made it difficult to compile a complete assessment of U.S. military support since October 7.
Israel’s aid totals from the U.S. have always been significant, with the nation receiving $251.2 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars since 1959.
The U.S. is committed to giving Israel $3.8 billion annually through 2028 as part of a defense agreement first signed during the Obama administration.
However, the war’s immediate needs have dramatically exceeded this scheduled funding.
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In addition to military aid, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the region.
Around 50,000 U.S. forces have been deployed across the Middle East since the start of the conflict, with U.S. Navy strike groups, fighter squadrons, and air defense systems bolstering the region’s defenses.
This increased presence is designed to deter attacks on Israeli and American forces, as well as counter Iranian influence in the region.
One of the largest challenges has been countering Houthi forces in Yemen, who have targeted merchant ships in solidarity with Hamas.
According to the report, the U.S. Navy’s operations to quell Houthi attacks have been one of the most intense sea campaigns since World War II, costing billions in resources.
Houthis have deployed inexpensive Iranian-made drones that cost only $2,000 each, while the U.S. military has had to respond with much more expensive missiles and advanced defense systems.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press