During his State of the Union speech on Thursday night, President Joe Biden announced an “emergency” military mission to construct a port in the Mediterranean Sea on Gaza’s coast to get humanitarian aid in.
“I’m directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters,” Biden said in his address to Congress from the U.S. Capitol
“No U.S. boots will be on the ground,” he said. “This temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day. But Israel must also do its part.”
“Israel must allow more aid into Gaza,” Biden continued, “and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the cross fire.”
The planned port was previewed by administration officials earlier on Thursday who said it will be able to receive “large ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters,” as one senior aide put it.
A senior defense official said the port’s main feature will be a temporary pier that will “provide the capacity for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day.”
The effort will be undertaken by the U.S. and partner countries, a senior defense official said, and it will take “a number of weeks to plan and execute.” The official said the forces needed to complete the mission are either already in the region or will head there soon.
The senior defense official said the operation will not require American troops to be on the ground. Later pressed, the senior White House official said the U.S. military has “unique capabilities” and “can do things from just offshore that is extraordinary.”
Initial shipments of aid will arrive through the port via Cyprus, the defense official said.
The Trident pier rests on the shore of Fort Story, Va., during the preliminary stages of the Joint Logistics-Over-the-Shore exercise, Aug.17, 2012.
Dvids/Files
That official told reporters that the U.S. continues to push Israel to allow more aid into Gaza by land, saying it’s the “most-efficient, cost-effective” option.
“But we have decided that we, and the president has directed, that we look at all options that we not wait for the Israelis and that we are pursuing every channel possible to get assistance into Gaza,” the official said.
A Trident Pier supports Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore in Anmyeon Beach, Korea, July 3, 2015.
Staff Sgt. Maricris McLane/U.S. Army
U.S. Army soldiers along with U.S. Navy Seabees align the Modular Causeway System of the Trident Pier in preparation for Iron Union 13 and Native Fury 20 in the United Arab Emirates, Mar 9, 2020.
Maj. Dino De La Hoya/U.S. Army, FILES
The defense official maintained getting a temporary cease-fire deal is the best way of getting aid in.
The senior White House official said “there’s no hard and fast, like, deadline on this negotiation” when asked about reaching a deal before Ramadan.
“But obviously, we recognize that extremists could try to use Ramadan to spark something that would be deeply unfortunate in that holy month and we want to make sure that we have a peaceful period so people can worship and obviously we’re working that through with the Israelis with the Palestinian Authority, with the Jordanians and others,” the White House official said.
Humanitarian aid is air-dropped by US aircraft over the northern Gaza Strip, March 7, 2024.
Mohammed Saber/EPA via Shutterstock
A senior defense official said the U.S. has provided more than $180 million worth in aid to Gaza since the war began on Oct. 7.
“But the truth is, we know that the aid flowing into Gaza is nowhere near enough and nowhere near fast enough,” the defense official said. “The president will make clear again this evening that we all need to do more and that the United States is doing more, and we are seeking to use every channel possible to get additional assistance into Gaza.”
The defense official said Israel has been working in recent days to establish a third land crossing into Gaza that “will allow for aid to flow directly to the population in northern Gaza that is in dire need of assistance.” The U.S. expects the first delivery via this passage to happen over the next week, the official added.
The Pentagon official also said that the U.S. made its third air drop of aid into Gaza Thursday morning. The three drops included 192 bundles totaling nearly 113,000 meals, the official added.
President Joe Biden has announced a groundbreaking military mission that will see the US military construct a pier off the coast of Gaza to facilitate aid delivery in emergency situations. The decision comes in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where millions of people are in desperate need of assistance due to ongoing conflict and economic hardship.
The construction of the pier will allow for the direct delivery of aid to the people of Gaza, bypassing the traditional channels that have often been fraught with delays and obstacles. This will ensure that critical supplies such as food, water, and medical supplies can reach those in need quickly and efficiently, potentially saving countless lives in the process.
The decision to involve the military in this mission underscores the urgency and importance of the situation in Gaza. By utilizing the resources and expertise of the US military, the construction of the pier is expected to be completed in record time, allowing for aid deliveries to begin as soon as possible.
In addition to providing much-needed aid to the people of Gaza, the construction of the pier will also serve as a symbol of solidarity and support from the United States. It sends a clear message that the US stands with the people of Gaza in their time of need and is committed to helping alleviate their suffering.
While the construction of the pier is a significant step forward, it is important to recognize that it is just one part of a larger effort to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. President Biden has also pledged to work with international partners to provide additional support and assistance to the people of Gaza, including funding for reconstruction and development projects.
Overall, the announcement of this military mission to construct a pier off the coast of Gaza is a positive development that has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of millions of people. It demonstrates a commitment to humanitarian principles and a willingness to take concrete action to help those in need. As construction gets underway, hopes are high that aid deliveries will soon be flowing smoothly and efficiently to those who need it most.
