U.S. Weapons for Israel Since the Gaza War: By the Numbers
Despite allegations from Israel that the U.S. has stopped weapon shipments, recent figures dispel these claims and reveal significant support from Washington for its ally.
According to informed American officials, President Joe Biden‘s administration has sent Israel a large number of munitions, including over 10,000 2,000-pound bombs and thousands of Hellfire missiles since the start of the Gaza war.
Between the start of the war in October and recent days, the U.S. has delivered:
- At least 14,000 MK-84 2,000-pound bombs
- 6,500 500-pound bombs
- 3,000 Hellfire surface-to-air precision-guided missiles
- 1,000 bunker-busting bombs
- 2,600 small-diameter bombs
- Other munitions.
While officials did not specify a timeline for these shipments, the total figures suggest no significant decrease in U.S. military support for Israel, despite international calls to limit arms supplies and the administration’s recent decision to halt a shipment of powerful bombs.
What Do These Shipments Mean?
Tom Karako, a weapons expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, stated, “While these figures can be quickly spent in a major conflict, this list clearly reflects a significant level of support from the U.S. for our Israeli allies,” adding that “the mentioned munitions are the type Israel would use in its war against Hamas or in a potential conflict with Hezbollah.”
The delivery figures, which had not been announced previously, provide the latest and most comprehensive inventory of munitions shipped to Israel since the start of the Gaza war, according to Reuters.
Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been exchanging fire since the start of the Gaza war, and fears of an all-out war between the two sides are increasing. The White House declined to comment, and the Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
One U.S. official said the shipments are part of a larger list of arms sent to Israel since the start of the Gaza conflict, while a senior Biden administration official told reporters on Wednesday that Washington has sent $6.5 billion worth of weapons to Israel since October 7.
Israeli Claims
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently claimed that Washington is withholding weapons, which U.S. officials have repeatedly denied, though they acknowledge some “hurdles.”
The Biden administration has halted one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs, citing concerns about their impact in densely populated areas of Gaza. However, U.S. officials insist that all other arms deliveries are continuing as usual. A single 2,000-pound bomb can penetrate thick concrete and metal, creating a wide blast radius.
Reuters reported Thursday that the U.S. is discussing with Israel the release of a shipment of large bombs that was suspended in May due to concerns about the military operation in Rafah.
International scrutiny of Israel’s military operation in Gaza is intensifying, with the Palestinian death toll exceeding 37,000, according to Gaza’s health ministry, leaving the coastal strip in ruins.
U.S. Aid
Washington provides $3.8 billion in annual military aid to its long-standing ally. While Biden has warned that he might impose conditions on military aid if Israel fails to protect civilians and allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, he has yet to do so, apart from delaying the May shipment.
-
Taming the Dragon? Washington Approves Sale of Offensive Weapons to Taiwan
-
Israel’s Alternative Plan in Rafah: Secrets of American Negotiations to Stop Occupation Massacres
Biden‘s support for Israel in its war against Hamas has been highlighted, especially among young Democrats, as he runs for re-election this year, leading to pro-Palestinian protests on American campuses.
While the U.S. provides detailed descriptions of the quantities of military aid sent to Ukraine, the administration has revealed few details about the full extent of American weapons and munitions sent to Israel.
-
Washington denies using floating dock in rescue of Israeli hostages and announces completion of aid deliveries
-
Thirst crisis worsens: Water in Deir al-Balah more precious than gold
It is also difficult to track these shipments because some weapons are shipped as part of arms sales approved by Congress years ago but are only being executed now.
A U.S. official said the Pentagon has sufficient quantities of weapons in its own stocks and is in contact with American industry partners who manufacture the weapons, such as Boeing and General Dynamics, which are working to produce more.
