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The US State Department announced yesterday that it will release unconditionally $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt, as Cairo and Washington engage in mediation to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
The ministry stressed that Egypt had made progress in certain areas related to human rights, pointing to the assistance provided by Cairo in mediating between Israel and Hamas regarding the war in Gaza.
A US State Department spokesperson said, “This decision is important to promote regional peace and Egypt’s specific and ongoing contributions to US national security priorities, particularly to finalizing the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.”
The United States, Egypt and Qatar are involved in negotiations to release hostages held by Hamas since its attack on Israel on October 7, and to halt the Israeli military operation in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands.
The spokesman also referred to Egypt’s role in “strengthening the ceasefire in Sudan,” where a civil war has been raging for more than 16 months.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the budget allocation in a memorandum to Congress, as required by US law.
