US Has Provided $21.7 Billion in Military Aid to Israel Since Gaza War Began, Academic Report Finds

WASHINGTON – The United States has supplied at least $21.7 billion in military assistance to Israel since the war in Gaza began two years ago, according to a comprehensive new academic study published Tuesday. The report underscores the vast scale of American support for its key ally during a conflict that has resulted in immense casualties and a deepening humanitarian crisis.

The study, released by the Costs of War project at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, was published on the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw over 240 taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has, according to local health authorities, resulted in the deaths of more than 38,000 Palestinians and displaced the vast majority of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents.

A separate report, also from the Costs of War project, estimates that the U.S. has spent an additional $10 billion on security aid and military operations across the broader Middle East over the same period, responding to regional tensions ignited by the conflict.

Breakdown of Aid and Its Uses

While the reports rely on open-source material, including official notifications to Congress, they provide one of the most detailed public accountings of the American commitment. The findings reveal a significant surge in arms transfers, ranging from precision-guided bombs and artillery shells to advanced fighter jets.

The primary report, produced in conjunction with the Washington-based Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, breaks down the $21.7 billion as follows:

• $17.9 billion was provided in the first year of the war under the Biden administration.

• $3.8 billion was provided in the second year. The report notes that while some of this assistance has already been delivered, a substantial portion will be supplied to Israel over the coming years.

This wartime aid is in addition to the annual $3.8 billion in foreign military financing the U.S. has provided to Israel under a long-standing agreement. The reports argue that “without this assistance, Israel would not have been able to sustain its concerted campaign against Hamas in Gaza.”

A Wider Regional Toll

The second report highlights the conflict’s ripple effects across the Middle East and the consequent financial cost to the United States. It estimates that U.S. spending on broader regional security activities since Oct. 7, 2023, totals between $9.65 billion and $12 billion.

This includes:

• Operations to counter Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

• Dozens of strikes against Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria.

• A significant allocation of between $2 billion and $2.25 billion for U.S. and British strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and associated costs in June 2024 alone.

Political Context and Reactions

The release of the reports comes at a critical diplomatic moment. President Joe Biden is navigating intense pressure from within his own Democratic party, where a growing number of progressives have demanded conditions on military aid to Israel over concerns regarding civilian casualties and international law. Simultaneously, he faces calls from Republicans to provide unwavering support to Israel.

The State Department had no immediate comment on the reported figures. The White House referred questions to the Pentagon, which oversees only a portion of the assistance, indicating the complex and multi-faceted nature of the aid packages.

The Quincy Institute, a think tank that advocates for military restraint in U.S. foreign policy, has been criticized by some pro-Israel groups as isolationist and anti-Israel—charges the organization firmly denies. The involvement of the Costs of War project, known for its decades-long work tracking the human and financial toll of post-9/11 U.S. conflicts, lends academic weight to the findings.

As indirect talks between Israeli and Hamas officials continue in Egypt, the scale of U.S. military aid detailed in these reports highlights the profound influence Washington wields in the conflict, and the high stakes involved in its efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire.

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