US government provided $6.5 billion in security aid to Israel since Oct. 7 - report

In order to counter this allegation of bottlenecking, US arms transfer experts went through "hundreds of separate items" with counterparts, accompanied by Gallant on his visit, an official said.

 Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu at the War Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem last October (photo credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90)
Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu at the War Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem last October
(photo credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90)

Israel has received $6.5 billion in security aid from the United States since October 7, according to a report by The Washington Post

The report added that nearly half of the aid lasted through May 2024, 7 months after the start of the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza.

“This is a massive, massive undertaking,” a senior administration official told The Washington Post. He added that the totals indicate how deep and complex Israel's relationship with the United States is. 

This aid was a topic of conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and his delegation to Washington this week.

Slowing down aid to Israel

Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged that the Biden administration has been slowing down military assistance to Israel. 

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the media during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 (credit: MAYA ALLERUZZO/POOL/VIA REUTERS)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the media during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 (credit: MAYA ALLERUZZO/POOL/VIA REUTERS)

The official said that in order to counter this allegation of bottlenecking, US arms transfer experts went through "hundreds of separate items" with counterparts, accompanied by Gallant on his visit.

The purpose of Gallant's trip was partly to smooth over increasingly tense relations and illustrate a different Israeli attitude toward American aid, according to the Washington Post report. 

Gallant met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during his visit.