Reports The U.S. armament of Israel in its war on Gaza: Unprecedented funding without transparency

The United States has provided over $22.76 billion in military aid to Israel and related operations in the region since the start of the ongoing war on Gaza on October 7, 2023. This aid, alongside political and diplomatic support, comes despite Israel’s continued violations of international law and its blockade of humanitarian aid, food, and medicine into the region.

Israeli forces have used these U.S.-supplied weapons to destroy Gaza’s infrastructure, resulting in the deaths and injuries of over 148,000 civilians, the majority of whom are women and children, with tens of thousands still buried under the rubble.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate voted against three bills aimed at restricting certain arms sales to Israel. This occurred as Israel continued to block humanitarian aid shipments intended for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. While 18 senators voted in favor of halting some arms sales, 79 opposed, marking the first time nearly a third of the Senate voted against military support for Israel.

The Biden administration actively urged Democratic senators to vote for continued arms shipments, despite Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian aid. Similarly, Senate leaders Mitch McConnell (Republican) and Chuck Schumer (Democrat) advocated against the proposed legislation, emphasizing the need to sustain military sales to Israel.

Among the 18 senators voting for restrictions were Bernie Sanders, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch, Brian Schatz, Chris Van Hollen, and Elizabeth Warren. Sanders and others proposed measures to prevent the sale of advanced munitions and tank shells to Israel, emphasizing adherence to U.S. and international laws prohibiting arms sales to nations obstructing humanitarian aid.

Sanders criticized the U.S.’s role in fueling the conflict, noting that nearly all of Israel’s military actions in Gaza have been conducted using American weapons, funded by $18 billion in taxpayer money. He condemned the indiscriminate bombing of densely populated neighborhoods, calling the actions “immoral and illegal.”

He also questioned the Senate’s stance, asking, “How can we criticize Iran and China for human rights violations while supporting the starvation of children in Gaza?” Sanders highlighted surveys indicating that about 60% of American Jews oppose further arms shipments to Israel.

Senator Chris Van Hollen echoed these concerns, stating that U.S. taxpayer money should not serve as a “blank check” and that Israel’s policies under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are damaging America’s international reputation. He criticized the Biden administration for acknowledging the insufficient delivery of aid to Palestinians while continuing to support Israel.

Historic U.S. military support for Israel :100 arms deals
A study by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs revealed that in the year following the October 7, 2023, escalation, the U.S. spent at least $22.76 billion on military aid to Israel and related operations, including $17.9 billion directly allocated to Israel’s military. An additional $4.86 billion covered U.S. operations in the region, such as strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen in support of Israel.

The study highlighted the difficulty in accurately tracking U.S. military support for Israel due to the lack of transparency. Unlike aid to Ukraine, which includes detailed reports on financial amounts, delivery channels, and weapon systems, much of the aid to Israel has not been fully documented. For example, the Biden administration reportedly signed over 100 arms deals with Israel since October 2023, many of which fell below the threshold requiring congressional notification.

U.S. military aid to Israel is described as “historic,” with Washington being Israel’s largest weapons supplier since 1959. Israel is the top recipient of U.S. military aid since World War II, with total assistance amounting to $186 billion (adjusted to $310 billion when accounting for inflation).

Currently, Israel receives $3.3 billion annually in foreign military financing and $500 million for missile defense systems such as the Iron Dome. Unlike other nations, Israel is permitted to spend 25% of its U.S. military aid domestically, bolstering its own arms industry.

The U.S. commitment to Israeli military supremacy
Washington’s aid ensures that Israel maintains a qualitative military edge over its regional neighbors. For example, Israel is the only country in the region authorized to operate the advanced F-35 fighter jets. Additionally, when the U.S. sells arms to other Middle Eastern nations, it often compensates Israel with additional military support to preserve this edge.

This unprecedented level of U.S. military and financial support underscores the deeply intertwined relationship between the two nations, even as debates within Congress reflect growing divisions over the ethical and legal implications of such aid.

Unlike any other country in the world, Israel is allowed to spend 25% of its annual American military aid on its own arms industry. As a major non-NATO ally, Israel can receive American military equipment under the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program.

The total amount provided by Washington to Israel since 1948 is valued at $186 billion in military aid (excluding inflation adjustments according to Congressional Research Service data). Some experts estimate the total value of aid, after adjusting for inflation, at $310 billion.

American aid provided to Israel is distributed in three forms: $218 billion in military aid, $76 billion in economic aid, and $16 billion in missile program aid.

Currently, almost all regular American aid to Israel is in the form of grants to purchase weapons. Israel receives $3.3 billion annually from the Foreign Military Financing programs and $500 million for research, development, and deployment of missile defense systems like the Iron Dome.