The US has been Israel's foremost arms supplier for decades. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 99% of arms imports for Israel between 2019 and 2023 came from the US (69%) and Germany (30%).

Before Hamas-led attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, Washington was exporting arms worth an average of $3 billion (€2.76 billion) per year to Israel. In absolute terms, however, Israel imports fewer arms from the US than other countries in the region.

Over the past five years, Israel has received 3.6% of US arms exports, while15% have gone to Saudi Arabia, 8.2% to Qatar and 4.5% to Kuwait.

US fighter jets are playing an important role in Israel's massive military offensive in Gaza, as well as in strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. According to a report by SIPRI, the US supplied thousands of guided weapons and missiles to Israel at the end of 2023. But the overall volume of Israeli arms imports was not significantly higher in 2023 than it was the previous year.

The supply of heavy weaponry to Israel has been particularly contested this year, with protesters taking to the streets and blocking supply lines in an effort to halt military shipments.

In May, US president Joe Biden temporarily suspended the delivery of 2,000-pound (907 kilograms) and........

© Deutsche Welle