WASHINGTON — The United States has spent a record of at least $17.9 billion on military aid to Israel since the war in Gaza began and led to escalating conflict around the Middle East, according to a report for Brown University’s Costs of War project, released Monday on the anniversary of Hamas’ attacks on Israel. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] An additional $4.86 billion has gone into stepped-up U.S.