US Approves Full Military Aid to Egypt Despite Human Rights Concerns Amid Gaza War Efforts

The US State Department has approved the full $1.3 billion in military financing for Egypt this year, despite calls from some members of Congress to withhold a portion due to human rights concerns, Bloomberg reports.

In a statement to Congress on Wednesday, the State Department justified the full funding based on Egypt’s contributions to US national security priorities, particularly in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. Egypt has played a key role in mediating talks between Israel and Hamas, a US-designated terrorist organization, and has been instrumental in facilitating communication between the warring factions, the statement read.

The move to provide the full amount of military aid to Egypt comes amidst an economic crisis in the country, which led to a $57 billion international bailout orchestrated by the International Monetary Fund and the United Arab Emirates. The US has been a major provider of aid to Egypt since the Camp David Accords in 1978, recognizing its importance as a stabilizing force in the Middle East and North Africa.

A group of senators led by Democrat Chris Van Hollen of Maryland have opposed the decision, urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week to withhold $320 million in aid that was contingent on human rights improvements. The senators cited the ongoing deterioration of human rights in Egypt in a letter to Blinken.

The $320 million in question was divided into two categories: $225 million tied to broad human rights issues, which Blinken waived on national security grounds, and $95 million linked to the release of political prisoners and due process, which Blinken determined Egypt has met.