US will stop $4bn annual aid to Israel by end of 2026 — Trump

Abdullateef Fowewe

US President, Donald Trump has claimed that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed months ago to end annual US funding to Israel after this year, a surprise announcement that could reshape one of Washington’s longest-standing security partnerships.

“Now, as far as paying Israel, Bibi Netanyahu and I have made a deal that we give Israel $4bn a year, and we made a deal months ago that we’re stopping,” Trump told Fox News’ Fox and Friends said on Tuesday as voting began in the US midterm elections.

He added, “We’ve already agreed that by the end of this year we won’t be paying Israel. Now we’ll help Israel if they need it.”

Trump did not specify whether the pledge covered military assistance, economic support, or both, and the White House and State Department had not clarified the legal mechanism for ending the funding as of the time of filing this report.

Asked why the United States was halting the payments, the president said, “Because they don’t need it. If they did need it, I would say ‘keep going.’”

The United States currently provides Israel with $3.8bn in annual military aid under a 10-year memorandum of understanding that began in 2018 and is scheduled to run through 2028.

Trump’s reference to “$4bn” appears to exceed that formal annual military-aid figure, leaving uncertainty over precisely which programmes he intends to end.

The existing agreement was negotiated under President Barack Obama and has underpinned Israeli procurement of US-made defence systems, including missile-defence capabilities.

Any effort to stop payments before its 2028 expiry would likely require action by Congress or significant changes to how appropriated funds are administered.

A politically charged issue
Aid to Israel has become an increasingly divisive issue in US politics, particularly amid Israel’s war in Gaza and growing criticism from progressive Democrats.

In July, the House rejected an amendment by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky that would have blocked State Department and national-security funding from going to Israel.

The measure failed 314–104, with 103 Democrats supporting it and Massie the only Republican voting in favour.

The result showed a split inside the Democratic Party, even though the amendment failed decisively.

Former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Trump critic, suggested the timing was politically motivated.

“Amazing how being on the verge of Republicans getting wiped out in the midterms changes hearts and minds,” she wrote on X.

“Trump getting permission from Netanyahu to end annual aid to Israel isn’t going to change today’s election results.”