Thu Sep 12 01:44:23 UTC 2024: ## US Waives Human Rights Conditions on Military Aid to Egypt Amid Gaza Crisis
**Cairo, Egypt** – The Biden administration has announced it will grant Egypt its full allocation of $1.3 billion in military aid this year, despite ongoing concerns over human rights abuses in the country. This marks the first time the full amount has been granted since President Biden took office.
The decision comes amidst the ongoing war in Gaza, where Washington has relied heavily on Cairo to mediate ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. The US has cited Egypt’s “specific and ongoing contributions to U.S. national security priorities,” including its efforts to secure a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians, as justification for the waiver.
However, the move has drawn criticism from some lawmakers, including Senator Chris Murphy, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Middle East subcommittee. Murphy expressed his concern over ignoring Egypt’s “deeply repressive autocratic state” and called the decision “unjustified.”
The US has previously withheld portions of military aid to Egypt due to concerns about human rights abuses, including torture and enforced disappearances under President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s government. While the administration has acknowledged ongoing concerns, it claims that Egypt has made “sufficient efforts” to address the issue, citing the release of some political prisoners and reforms to the penal code.
However, human rights groups remain skeptical, citing the continued arbitrary arrest of Egyptians and the lack of concrete progress on releasing all political prisoners. The State Department has assured continued dialogue with the Egyptian government regarding human rights improvements, but the decision to waive conditions on military aid has raised questions about the administration’s commitment to promoting democracy and human rights in the region.
First Piper 