A narrow strip of scrubland and sand dunes on the Gaza side of the border with Egypt has emerged as a major obstacle in talks aimed at halting the Israel-Hamas war and freeing scores of hostages.

The Biden administration is overriding human rights conditions on military aid to Egypt, a State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday, granting the U.S. ally its full allocation of $1.3 billion this year for the first time during this administration,

The Biden administration had previously withheld some annual funding from Egypt amid scrutiny of its human rights record.

Cairo will receive its full military aid allotment of $1.3 billion after the secretary of state also said it had made progress on releasing political prisoners and protecting Americans.

The Biden administration on Wednesday notified the U.S. Congress that it will provide Egypt with $1.3 billion in military aid, a State Department spokesperson said, the first time since 2020 Egypt will receive the total amount of U.

The Biden administration is sending Egypt its full $1.3 billion allocation of military aid, setting aside conditions placed by Congress on some of the money over human rights concerns and citing Cairo's role as a mediator in the Israel-Hamas war.

US cites Gaza cease-fire deal as it releases full aid to Egypt, even as critics, senators warn of human rights concerns, media arrests

The U.S. State Department has approved $1.3 billion in military financing for Egypt this year. Egypt has played a key role in facilitating talks with Hamas to bring about a cease-fire and secure the release of Israeli hostages.