TEL AVIV (Dispatches) -- 
Israel’s military expenditures have skyrocketed to $76.3 billion since the outbreak of the Gaza war nearly two years ago, official data revealed on Tuesday, underscoring the massive economic and human toll of the illegal entity’s ongoing military campaigns.
The figures, reported by Israel’s public broadcaster KAN and based on finance ministry data, indicate that the state has spent 250 billion shekels on operations spanning Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran since October 2023. Senior ministry officials admitted that mismanagement of reserve service days led to “the waste of billions of shekels” in payments to reservists.
Far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich justified the surge in war spending, stating that an increased budget is “necessary to enable growth in Israel’s economy in the coming years,” though he did not provide specifics on funding allocations.
While exact breakdowns remain sparse, analysts say the total includes military operations, missile defense, compensation for settlers and businesses, and reconstruction costs. 
Direct losses from the 12-day war with Iran alone are estimated at $12 billion, including missile damage, business disruption, and infrastructure losses. Indirect losses, such as economic disruption and compensation, could push the total to $20 billion.
The Israeli treasury has already absorbed 22 billion shekels ($6.46 billion) in losses, and the military has requested an additional 40 billion shekels ($11.7 billion) to replenish arms and sustain reserves. These figures exclude ongoing costs such as temporary housing for evacuees and property rehabilitation.
Economists warn that the war has strained Israel’s budget, with the deficit projected to rise to 6 percent of GDP amid declining economic growth. Adam Bloomberg of Israel’s Histadrut labor federation estimated that the economic shutdown triggered by war cost $294 million per day, with losses exceeding $3.5 billion during the 12-day Iran war.
The Gaza war alone has resulted in nearly 69,000 deaths and over 170,300 injuries, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ceasefire in October 2023, under U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, temporarily halted hostilities.
Meanwhile, property and infrastructure damages in Israel remain extensive. Losses at the Bazan oil refinery in Haifa, Ben Gurion Airport, and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange have disrupted energy, transport, and capital markets. 
One Iranian missile strike on the diamond exchange, a sector accounting for roughly 8 percent of exports, triggered panic sell-offs, further destabilizing the economy.
Israel’s military expenditure is spread across numerous categories: $2.9 billion on operations and logistics, $1.5 billion on compensation for displaced residents and businesses, and $1.5 billion on damages from Iranian missile strikes. Additional losses in property, economic output, and company compensation further weigh on the economy.
Economists caution that unless unchecked, continued military engagement could lead to severe fiscal stress and potential economic collapse. 
Compensation payments to over 36,000 claimants and 
emergency evacuations of more than 10,000 residents exacerbate the budget strain, with the Zionist regime likely to raise taxes, cut public services, or increase borrowing to manage the deficit.
Smotrich’s insistence on maintaining the atrocities “as long as necessary” highlights the Zionist entity’s prioritization of military objectives over economic stability. Even with $76 billion already spent in Gaza, he has urged prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue operations, framing the expenditure as essential to security and future economic growth.
The sheer scale of Israel’s spending exposes a brutal reality: relentless military escalation drains the economy and destroys vital infrastructure. With every missile fired and every operation launched, the financial and material toll grows, pushing the illegal entity closer to collapse.