U.S. Army soldiers with Task Force Sinai play bingo at South Camp, Sinai, Egypt, in March 2023 in an event sponsored by the USO. The troops deployed to the Sinai Peninsula haven’t been receiving mail and packages regularly since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. (Jarred Woods/U.S. Army)
American troops stationed in Egypt didn’t get their Christmas presents in the mail, and now some are concerned that they won’t receive their ballots.
The mail sent by the U.S. Postal Service through the military’s postal system has been disrupted ever since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, according to service members deployed to the country.
A U.S. defense official confirmed Thursday that the halt in mail and package delivery is due to the ongoing war in Gaza, and that it affects troops deployed as part of the Multinational Force and Observers mission in the Sinai Peninsula. U.S. Central Command is trying to reroute mail while working with the Egyptian government, said the official, who along with U.S. troops spoke on background because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
The military postal system delivers overseas to service members, Defense Department civilians, contractors and their families, while charging domestic postal rates.
The delivery stoppage involves issues with customs in Egypt, a U.S. service member deployed to the country said. No further details were immediately available on how the war was affecting Egyptian customs practices.
Since the Israel-Hamas war began, one shipment of goods arrived Dec. 14 after being rerouted from Germany to another country in the Middle East to Egypt, the U.S. service member said.
These were older items, so no mail got through for the December holidays, the service member said.
“No one received any gifts whatsoever, and families ... were frustrated they couldn’t send anything,” the service member in Egypt said.
Some U.S. troops said they’re worried they won’t be able to vote in their states’ primary elections.
National Guard troops from Texas are among those deployed to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, as part of Task Force Sinai, according to a recent Facebook newsletter from one of the units deployed.
Military voters from Texas can vote in the state primary if their ballots are received by March 11, a federal voting guide says.
There are plans to find a long-term solution for mail delays and to ensure deployed soldiers have the chance to vote, the defense official said Thursday, without providing details.
The U.S. has had troops deployed to Egypt as part of Task Force Sinai since 1982. Four Americans who were part of the peacekeeping mission were injured in 2015 by roadside bombs. At the time, there were 750 troops deployed to the Sinai Peninsula, the Army said.
