US Will Have 'Blood On its Hands' if Plan for Israel Has No De-Escalation - Ex-Egyptian FM

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States risks having blood on its hands if its security assistance for Israel does not include efforts to deescalate the conflict, former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy told Sputnik.

On Friday, President Joe Biden submitted a $106 billion supplemental funding request to Congress that includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, half of which is to provide Kiev with weapons and replenish US weapon stockpiles. The supplemental package also proposes $14.3 billion for Israel, which includes $10.6 billion for security assistance such as air and missile defense support and industrial base investments.

"So it's really surprising. What is the actual intention? What is going to be done that requires this much support? If you're going to provide this blanket support without a clear, de-escalation phase, then frankly, you're going to also have blood on your hands," Fahmy said.

Fahmy added that the White House's call for a supplemental aid package of this magnitude is indicative of what the United States is trying to do, unless it's simply an electoral motive.

"In all honesty, the money and the kinds of equipment being envisaged here for Israel... the amount of material and resources here even exceed what's provided to many NATO countries," Fahmy said.

Moreover, Fahmy said Biden's comparison of the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza are completely different issues. He added that the United States should take the opposition position in terms of Gaza because Israel is the one that is occupying the West Bank and carrying out a gas blockade.