U.S. troops have commenced the construction of a maritime port off the coast of Gaza, the Pentagon confirmed on April 26. This development comes as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians face the looming threat of displacement ahead of Israel's anticipated invasion of Rafah.
Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder informed reporters that US military vessels, including the USNS Benavidez, have begun constructing the initial phases of a temporary pier and causeway at sea. (Related: Biden: U.S. to build FLOATING PIER along Gaza coast to improve aid delivery.)
The decision to build the port was announced by President Joe Biden on March 7, with the stated objective of enabling the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza amidst the growing risk of famine. However, it has been reported that the idea for the port was initially proposed to Biden by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 22, shortly after the commencement of the conflict.
During a private meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Security Committee on March 20, Netanyahu hinted at the port's potential role in facilitating the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. He mentioned that no countries were willing to accept Gazans, suggesting that the port under construction could potentially serve this purpose.
This revelation has sparked concerns that the port could be used to expel Palestinians who have nowhere to flee ahead of Israel’s long-planned invasion of Rafah on the Gaza–Egypt border.
The announcement of the pier construction coincided with reports that Israeli authorities were restricting most aid deliveries to Gaza via land routes.
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Additionally, just a week before the announcement, Israeli forces fired into a crowd of people seeking to receive sacks of flour in Gaza City, resulting in the tragic deaths of 118 individuals due to the ensuing stampede.
Humanitarian aid reaching the port will need to pass through Israeli checkpoints
Despite pre-inspection of aid in Cyprus, Israel insists on overseeing aid passing through its checkpoints on land to prevent it from reaching Hamas fighters. This has raised questions about possible delays in aid distribution, as the United Nations (UN) has long complained about obstacles to delivering and distributing aid throughout Gaza.
The port is expected to initially handle enough aid to load 90 trucks daily, with plans for increased capacity as the port becomes fully operational.
Approximately 1,000 U.S. troops will be involved in supporting the construction and operation of the port, with coordination cells established in Cyprus and Israel. However, Biden has previously stated that no U.S. troops will set foot in Gaza itself.
Disagreements persist regarding the port's security management, with reported disputes over the installation of remote-controlled gun positions, which the UN opposes.
The deployment of U.S. troops has sparked concerns about their safety amid the ongoing conflict. These fears were underscored by a recent mortar attack near the area, prompting a UN team inspecting the site to seek shelter.
In response, the Israeli military has pledged to provide security and logistics support for the port, mobilizing thousands of soldiers, navy ships and air force assets to safeguard U.S. troops involved in the construction. The UN's World Food Program is set to lead the aid delivery effort, with plans for a multi-zone port operation.
This operation will involve Israeli-controlled zones for aid drop-off and transfer, with Palestinian-contracted drivers waiting to transport aid to distribution points.
Hamas attacks the Gaza port being built for humanitarian aid. Watch the video below.
This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.
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