It was controlled by the Roman Empire, and only Roman citizens were allowed to fish or swim in it. Hope that helps!
The United States often makes aid decisions, both military and humanitarian, using the prism of our "strategic advantage."
So, if it would be advantageous to please a military dictator, either because of port access or drilling rights or the use of a base for refueling, it is likely that the aid will be used as an inducement to allow the United States to do those things.
Could you be referring to the holocaust? In that case it would have been the Jewish people.