The American air bridge to Israel: A flood of weapons fueling the fires of destruction in Gaza for decades to come.

Washington – "Al-Quds" dot com - Said Arikat

The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday that it has received the 1000th aircraft as part of an airlift operation importing weapons and military equipment from the United States since the attack on October 7, 2023. According to the ministry's statement, more than 120,000 tons of supplies – including munitions, weapon systems, armored vehicles, medical equipment, and communication systems – have been transported via this airlift, in addition to about 150 naval vessels carrying additional shipments. The Ministry of Defense describes this operation as a "logistical operation across continents on an unprecedented scale" since the establishment of Israel.

The statement also indicates the participation of missions from the United States and Germany in these supplies, hinting that some of the weapons may be German. Germany, the second-largest arms supplier to Israel after the United States, recently partially lifted its suspension on arms exports to Israel. This development places Europe at the heart of the Israeli arms network, despite increasing international criticism of those relations in light of the humanitarian crises in Gaza.

Multi-front use of American equipment

The shipments of American weapons are not limited to the war in Gaza; according to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, these weapons are also used in multiple conflicts: against Hezbollah in Lebanon, during operations in the West Bank, and even in airstrikes on Syria and Yemen. This suggests that the United States is not providing support for just one operation, but for a broader regional project, granting Israel operational capability on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Strengthening its defenses through American aid

On another front, Israel announced the signing of a "multi-billion" contract with the local company Rafael to supply additional batches of the Iron Dome system. This contract is partially funded by an American aid package of $8.7 billion, approved by Congress in April 2024. From this package, $5.2 billion has been allocated to enhance Israeli defense systems, including the "Iron Dome," "David's Sling," and a high-powered defensive laser system in its final stages. This shows that American support for Israel's security is not merely a circumstantial response, but a long-term investment in its defense infrastructure.

The collapse of Gaza... and the mines that still threaten lives

On the humanitarian front, several reports indicate that Israel has dropped massive amounts of explosives on Gaza. According to concerned organizations, the estimates of munitions launched amount to about 70,000 tons since October 2023.

Among these bombs and explosives, approximately 5 to 10 percent have not detonated, leaving thousands of tons of unexploded ordnance scattered in the rubble of buildings and land.

According to an estimate from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), there are about 7,500 tons of mines and unexploded ordnance in Gaza, and cleaning them up could take 14 years.

From a human rights perspective, this poses an immediate and direct threat to residents trying to return to their homes or rebuild what has been destroyed.

Some reports have mentioned that there are about 71,000 tons of unexploded explosives embedded within an estimated 65 to 70 million tons of rubble, scattered throughout the sector, inside homes, on roads, and agricultural lands.

Israeli reports even state that some of these unexploded bombs weigh more than one ton, significantly increasing the danger of debris removal and cleanup.

Media outlets have also indicated that fighters from Palestinian factions (such as Hamas) have repurposed some unexploded ordnance to create explosives from within, affecting the dynamics of the conflict.

The direct and long-term costs of American support

Regarding the budget, the "Costs of War Project" at Brown University indicates that the United States has spent about $21.7 billion in military aid to Israel since the October 7 attack, in addition to an additional $9.6 to $12 billion to support military operations in Yemen, Iran, and other theaters in the region.

This level of support is not only material but also supports a broader regional strategy that enables Israel to engage on multiple fronts, while simultaneously placing a political and moral burden on Washington, especially with the increasing international condemnation of civilian destruction in Gaza.

The massive airlift from Washington to Tel Aviv is not merely a temporary tactical support but is part of a long-term American strategy to entrench Israeli superiority in the region. However, the cost of this support is not only military but humanitarian as well: it fuels a machine of destruction in Gaza and leaves behind fields of unexploded ordnance that threaten civilian lives for many years. If the United States continues this approach without accountability or review, it is not only supporting an allied state but contributing to turning Gaza into a long-term humanitarian minefield,