US provided $17.9B in military aid to Israel since October 2023: Report

By Muhammet Tarhan

ISTANBUL (AA) – The US has provided $17.9 billion in military aid to Israel since Oct. 7, 2023, a report revealed.

The report, titled “United States Spending on Israel’s Military Operations and Related U.S. Operations in the Region, October 7, 2023 – Sept. 30, 2024,” prepared by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, shows extensive support for Israel’s operations and bolstering the US presence in the Middle East.

The report details that the US provided Israel with $6.8 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF), $5.7 billion for missile defense systems like Iron Beam, $1 billion for heavy weaponry, and $4.4 billion to replenish US weapon stocks transferred to Israel.

This $17.9 billion aid includes funds from prior agreements and reflects only public support, according to the report.

US military aid to Israel flows through several channels: FMF, Excess Defense Articles (EDA), Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and US stockpiles in Israel.

The report notes that all of Israel’s missile defense systems, including Iron Dome, Arrow, and David’s Sling, are developed with significant US funding and joint production in both the US and Israel.

The US military support to Israel has steadily increased since 1978, with the largest share approved under the Biden administration.

- Exclusive military agreements for Israel

The report highlights that when the US makes arms deals with other regional nations, it ensures Israel also receives equipment to maintain military superiority.

Israel is unique among US allies, and allowed to allocate 25% of its US military aid to its domestic arms industry.

Additionally, US law permits Israel to receive FMF funds in a lump sum at the beginning of each fiscal year, while other countries receive their aid in quarterly installments.

- US arms manufacturers benefit from Israel aid

Israel can directly purchase from American arms manufacturers, with companies such as Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, and Caterpillar viewing Israel as a major customer.

Boeing, for instance, reported $8 billion in defense orders in Q4 2023, with 36% of its revenue stemming from defense. Boeing supplies Israel’s Air Force with F-15 fighter jets, Apache AH 64 helicopters, and guided munitions kits.

RTX also plays a critical role, leading in guided missile production and supplying air-to-ground missiles for Israel’s F-16 jets.

The report states that directing military aid to US manufacturers bolsters political support, with the Biden administration arguing that these aid packages create American jobs and strengthen the defense industry’s infrastructure.

The report underscores a marked increase in US military presence in the Middle East since Oct. 7, with significant boosts in defense spending for fiscal year 2024.

In one year, the US spent at least $22.76 billion on military aid to Israel and related regional operations, with $4.86 billion allocated for US operations in the region.

The US currently maintains 50,000 military personnel across 19 locations in the Middle East, including ships and aircraft, up from 34,000 before Oct. 7, 2023.

More than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s war on the enclave began on Oct. 7, 2023. Most casualties are reported to be women and children, with over 101,000 injured, according to local health authorities.

More than a year into the conflict, large portions of Gaza remain devastated, facing shortages of food, clean water, and medicine amid a severe blockade.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its brutal war against Palestinians.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul