Report: U.S. Provided $21.7 Billion to Israel Since Gaza War Began/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A new Brown University report says the U.S. has supplied $21.7 billion in military aid to Israel since the Gaza war began two years ago, spanning both the Biden and Trump administrations. An additional $10 billion has been spent on wider Middle East operations. The findings come as Trump pushes for a ceasefire and indirect talks continue in Egypt.
Gaza War Funding Quick Looks
- Total U.S. military aid to Israel: $21.7 billion since Oct. 7, 2023.
- Report source: Costs of War Project, Brown University’s Watson Institute.
- Additional Middle East spending: $9.6–$12 billion on regional operations.
- Funding breakdown: $17.9 billion under Biden, $3.8 billion under Trump.
- Agencies involved: State Department, Pentagon, and congressional authorizations.
- Future projections: Tens of billions more expected under U.S.-Israel defense pacts.
- Israel-Hamas talks: Indirect negotiations ongoing in Egypt over ceasefire plan.
- Academic partners: Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft co-authored the report.
- Criticism: Study says U.S. support “sustained” Israel’s Gaza campaign.
- White House stance: Trump administration urging peace; Pentagon declines comment.
Deep Look
U.S. Military Aid to Israel Reaches $21.7 Billion Since Start of Gaza War, New Study Finds
WASHINGTON — The United States has supplied at least $21.7 billion in military assistance to Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, according to a new report by Brown University’s Costs of War Project, released Tuesday on the two-year anniversary of the conflict.
The study — among the most detailed assessments of U.S. involvement to date — spans both the Biden and Trump administrations, revealing the vast scale of American financial and logistical support for Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.
A Breakdown of the Numbers
While much of the assistance has already been delivered, the remainder will be transferred over the coming years under existing bilateral agreements.
The study also projects tens of billions in future commitments through long-term defense cooperation programs, which include weapons procurement, joint training, and missile defense systems like Iron Dome and David’s Sling.
“Without American aid, Israel would not have been able to sustain its campaign in Gaza at this scale,” the report states, calling the U.S. “an essential partner in Israel’s ongoing military operations.”
Wider Middle East Costs: Up to $12 Billion
A companion report released simultaneously by the same research group estimates that U.S. military spending on broader Middle East operations has totaled between $9.6 billion and $12 billion since the Gaza war began.
That includes funding for:
- Airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels,
- Operations targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, and
- Associated costs from the June 2025 attacks on Iran, estimated between $2 and $2.25 billion.
Together, the reports offer a rare public glimpse into the scope and cost of America’s continued involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts.
Official Silence and Academic Debate
The State Department and White House declined to comment on the specific figures. The Pentagon, which oversees only part of the military assistance, also did not respond to requests for clarification.
The study was produced in partnership with the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Washington think tank often critical of U.S. foreign policy. Pro-Israel advocacy groups have accused the Quincy Institute of being “isolationist” and “anti-Israel,” a claim the organization has repeatedly denied.
“We’re not anti-Israel — we’re pro-accountability,” a Quincy spokesperson said. “This report simply documents what’s happening with American taxpayer dollars.”
Context: War’s Second Anniversary and Peace Push
The release of the report coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war. President Donald Trump, who took office in January, has been pushing for a ceasefire, dispatching U.S. envoys to join Egypt- and Qatar-mediated talks between Israel and Hamas in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Both sides are negotiating the first stage of a U.S.-backed peace plan involving a hostage release and partial Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.
Trump, who has publicly praised the Israeli military but criticized the war’s duration, told reporters Monday that he believes there is a “really good chance” for a “lasting peace.”
Impact and Criticism
The Brown University report is sharply critical of Israel’s conduct in the war, asserting that U.S. financial and military backing has prolonged the conflict and contributed to widespread civilian suffering.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the war has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and injured over 170,000, figures the United Nations considers credible.
“The human and economic costs of this war are staggering,” said Dr. Catherine Lutz, co-director of the Costs of War Project. “American aid has enabled a campaign that has produced devastating humanitarian consequences.”
Still, U.S. officials maintain that military aid to Israel is essential for regional stability and self-defense.
“Our security cooperation with Israel remains vital to deterring aggression and promoting peace through strength,” a senior administration official said.
Looking Ahead
Congressional authorizations and long-term aid packages suggest U.S. support for Israel will continue well beyond the war’s eventual conclusion.
Future funding under existing defense memorandums could exceed $40 billion over the next decade, analysts say — a level of commitment reflecting Washington’s enduring alliance with Israel despite growing domestic and international debate.
“Aid to Israel has bipartisan backing,” said Aaron David Miller, a former State Department adviser. “But as the costs mount — both financially and morally — it’s becoming harder to defend politically.”
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