President Biden Announces US Military to Construct Gaza Port for Humanitarian Aid
In a significant development, President Joe Biden is set to reveal plans for the US military to establish a temporary port in Gaza during his upcoming State of the Union address. Senior US officials have disclosed that the initiative aims to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region via sea, with the port facilitating an increase in daily aid by “hundreds of additional truckloads.”
Crucially, the temporary port will not involve the deployment of US troops on the ground in Gaza, according to officials. The United Nations has issued a warning, highlighting that a quarter of Gaza’s population is on the verge of famine.
The construction of the port is expected to take “a number of weeks” and will have the capacity to receive large ships carrying essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters. Initial shipments will be routed through Cyprus, where Israeli security inspections will be conducted.
The announcement comes in the aftermath of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched in response to attacks by Hamas on October 7. The conflict resulted in significant casualties, with over 30,800 people reported killed since then, as per Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
President Biden’s address will detail the establishment of the Gaza port, involving a temporary pier for the transfer of supplies from ships at sea to the shore. However, critical questions remain unanswered regarding the construction of the causeway and the security measures for aid distribution on land.
Gaza lacks a deep-water port, prompting the US to explore urgent alternatives for delivering aid. The administration has expressed growing impatience with Israel over the dire situation in Gaza.
US officials revealed plans for the pier installation by the 7th Transportation Brigade, based at Fort Story, Virginia. While designed for rapid deployment, the military ships for this operation have yet to depart from the US.
The World Health Organization recently warned of children dying of starvation in northern Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for aid. The region has faced difficulties in accessing assistance, with last week’s attempt resulting in over 100 casualties as people tried to reach an aid convoy. The situation has led to the suspension of food deliveries to northern Gaza by the World Food Programme due to “complete chaos and violence.”
In response to the worsening humanitarian crisis, the US and other nations have resorted to dropping aid by air, although this method is deemed a last resort and insufficient to meet the escalating needs on the ground. Meanwhile, a UN expert accused Israel of conducting a “starvation campaign” against the Palestinian people in Gaza, a claim vehemently rejected by the Israeli mission to the UN.