The U.S. State Department has announced the unconditional release of $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt, coinciding with ongoing negotiations between Cairo and Washington for a ceasefire in Gaza. This marks a significant shift from previous years, where portions of this aid were withheld due to concerns over human rights abuses under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime.
Historically, the U.S. has tied military assistance to improvements in Egypt’s human rights record. However, this year, the State Department acknowledged that Egypt has made “progress” in certain areas of human rights, particularly in its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
This decision to release the full amount of military aid comes after the Biden administration had previously withheld funds, citing human rights violations, including the targeting of political opponents and journalists. Critics argue that the decision undermines U.S. commitments to human rights, as reports indicate that abuses, including arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings, continue to be widespread in Egypt.
The aid package is crucial for Egypt, which has been a key U.S. ally in the Middle East since the 1978 Camp David Accords. The U.S. has provided Egypt with substantial military assistance, and this latest funding is seen as essential for maintaining regional stability and supporting ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Gaza conflict.
Despite the release of funds, human rights organizations have expressed disappointment, arguing that the Egyptian government has not made meaningful strides in addressing human rights concerns. They highlight ongoing repression of dissent, arbitrary detentions, and the targeting of civil society as persistent issues that remain unaddressed.