US to Construct Port in Gaza for Increased Humanitarian Aid, Says President Biden
In a move to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, President Joe Biden has announced that the US military will construct a port in the territory to facilitate the delivery of more humanitarian aid by sea. The temporary port is expected to significantly increase the amount of assistance reaching Palestinians, with officials stating that it will enable “hundreds of additional truckloads” of aid to be delivered daily. The UK has also pledged to work with the US in setting up a sea corridor for aid delivery.
The United Nations has warned that a quarter of Gaza’s population is on the brink of famine, emphasizing the urgent need for increased humanitarian assistance. President Biden made the official announcement during his State of the Union address, highlighting the importance of prioritizing humanitarian aid and calling on Israel to allow more aid into the territory. He stressed that “humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip.”
The construction of the port, which will be carried out by the US military, will involve the establishment of a temporary pier to transport supplies from ships at sea to the shore. However, important details regarding the construction of the causeway and the security of aid on land remain unanswered, raising questions about the feasibility and success of the operation.
Officials have stated that it will take several weeks to set up the port, which will be capable of receiving large ships carrying essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters. Initial shipments will arrive via Cyprus, where Israeli security inspections will be conducted.
President Biden emphasized that Israel must also play its part in facilitating aid delivery and ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers. He called on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and to prevent humanitarian workers from being caught in the crossfire.
The UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, expressed support for the initiative, announcing on X that the UK and its partners will open a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to Gaza. This joint effort between the US and the UK aims to alleviate the dire situation in Gaza and provide much-needed relief to its population.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began with Hamas’s attacks on Israel in October, has resulted in a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned that children in northern Gaza are dying of starvation, as an estimated 300,000 Palestinians are living with limited access to food and clean water.
Gaza currently lacks a deep water port, prompting the US to explore alternative methods of delivering aid urgently. The Biden administration has been publicly pressuring Israel to address the desperate situation on the ground. US officials have revealed plans for the installation of the pier by the 7th Transportation Brigade, a rapid deployment army unit based in Fort Story, Virginia. However, the military ships have not yet departed from the US.
Vice Adm Kevin Donegan, former Commander of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, expressed confidence in the feasibility of the port plan, describing it as “absolutely executable.” He acknowledged that delivering aid by land remains the most effective method in terms of quantity but stressed the importance of having adequate security and a reliable distribution network to ensure the safe delivery of aid.
The need for increased aid delivery has become more urgent following a recent incident where over 100 people were killed while attempting to reach an aid convoy. Palestinians claim that most of the casualties were shot by Israeli troops, while the Israeli military, responsible for overseeing private aid deliveries, stated that most deaths were due to a stampede.
Aid convoys have been entering southern Gaza through the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing and the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom. However, the northern part of Gaza, which was heavily affected by the Israeli ground offensive, has been largely cut off from assistance in recent months.
The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) announced on February 20 that it was suspending food deliveries to northern Gaza due to the collapse of civil order, including violent looting. Dropping aid by air has been used as a last resort, but humanitarian organizations argue that it cannot meet the escalating needs of the population.
Criticism has been directed at Israel, with an independent UN expert accusing the country of waging “a starvation campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza.” Israel’s representative at the UN rejected these allegations, asserting that Israel does not use starvation as a tool of war.
President Biden also revealed during his State of the Union address that he is actively working towards achieving an immediate six-week ceasefire. He believes that such an agreement would help resolve the humanitarian crisis, secure the release of hostages, and pave the way for a more sustainable solution.
While a Hamas delegation left talks in Cairo without reaching a ceasefire deal, the armed group has stated that indirect negotiations with Israel are ongoing. There were hopes that a 40-day truce could be established before the start of Ramadan, but mediators from Egypt and Qatar have encountered difficulties in finalizing an agreement that would secure the release of Israeli hostages
