Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Oct 7: The United States has provided at least $21.7 billion in military assistance to Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war two years ago, according to a new academic study released on Tuesday, marking the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel.

Another report from Brown University’s Costs of War Project estimates that Washington has spent roughly $10 billion more on security aid and military operations across the broader Middle East during the same period.

The findings, largely based on publicly available notifications to Congress, offer one of the most comprehensive assessments of US support to Israel and direct military involvement in the region. The studies note that tens of billions of dollars in future funding for Israel are projected under ongoing bilateral agreements.

The report details that the first year of the war, under President Joe Biden, saw $17.9 billion in assistance to Israel, while $3.8 billion was provided in the second year. Some of this aid has already been delivered, with the rest scheduled for coming years.

A second study, produced alongside the Washington-based Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, estimates $9.65 billion to $12 billion in US spending on broader Middle East operations, including $2–$2.25 billion for strikes in Iran and related activities in June.

The reports, critical of Israel’s wartime conduct, highlight that US aid has been crucial in sustaining Israel’s military campaign against Hamas. The release comes as Israel and Hamas began indirect negotiations in Egypt, under a US-backed plan aiming to halt the conflict.

The State Department did not comment immediately on the findings, and the White House referred questions to the Pentagon, which manages only a portion of the assistance.