President Trump told the Israeli Knesset on Monday that Israel has used US-supplied weapons “very well,” remarks that follow two years of Israeli bombardments in Gaza that have killed tens of thousands of women and children.
“We make the best weapons in the world, and we’ve got a lot of them. And we’ve given a lot to Israel, frankly,” Trump said, drawing applause.
The president said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he calls “Bibi,” would frequently call him asking for more weapons.
“I mean, Bibi would call me so many times, can you get me this weapon that weapon? Some of them I never heard of, Bibi, but we would get them here, wouldn’t we? And they are the best,” he said.
Trump went on to praise Israel’s use of US-provided weapons. “But you used them well. It also takes people that know how to use them, and you obviously used them very well, but so many that Israel became strong and powerful, which ultimately led to peace,” he added.
Trump’s comments underscore Washington’s complicity in Israel’s genocidal campaign in the Gaza Strip, as Israel relied on US military aid to sustain its military operations.
According to Brown University’s Costs of War project, since October 7, 2023, the US has provided Israel with at least $21 billion worth of military aid and spent another $10 billion to $13 billion conducting military operations in the region in support of Israel.
