US releases $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt citing Gaza deal
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A State Department spokesperson says the military aid grant is in the interest of the US "national security."
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US President Joe Biden (L) walking next to Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in November 2022 (Egyptian media)
Washington is waiving the human rights conditions previously attached to military aid for Egypt, a State Department spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday, granting Cairo its full $1.3 billion in allocated funds for the first time since US President Joe Biden took office.
This announcement comes amid ongoing but thus far unsuccessful indirect negotiations over a prisoner exchange deal and ceasefire in Gaza, mediated by Egypt and Qatar. At the same time, tensions between Cairo and Tel Aviv are escalating over the Israeli military presence near the Egyptian border.
Read more: Egypt's chief of staff makes unannounced visit to Egypt-Gaza border
Of the $1.3 billion in U.S. foreign military financing allocated to Egypt, $320 million is typically subject to conditions, resulting in portions of that sum being withheld in recent years citing "human rights concerns in Egypt."
However, Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed Congress on Wednesday that he would waive the certification requirement on $225 million of the conditioned funds this year, citing "U.S. national security interests," according to a statement from a State Department spokesperson via email, Reuters reported.
Read more: Egypt's president to pay official visit to Turkiye, meet with Erdogan
"This decision is important to advancing regional peace and Egypt’s specific and ongoing contributions to U.S. national security priorities, particularly to finalize a ceasefire agreement for Gaza, bring the hostages home, surge humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in need, and help bring an enduring end to the Israel-Hamas conflict," the spokesperson said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared last week "Israel's" refusal to withdraw from the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Corridor on the shared Gaza-Egyptian border.
Netanyahu also accused Egypt of not securing the Corridor, allowing tunnels to be dug under it, and providing “oxygen” to the Palestinian Resistance.
In response, Egypt released a statement categorically rejecting and denying the prime minister's claims.
Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 13 reported that “no single open tunnel has been found in the Egyptian territory. No single usable tunnel has been discovered under the Philadelphi Corridor.”
Read more: US backs Israeli approach to Philadelphi Corridor: Israeli official
