United States: Temporary port to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza

A sea corridor is already expected to be opened on Sunday to provide emergency aid to Gaza. This announcement comes from the European Commission after Joe Biden ordered the US military to establish a temporary port on the Gaza coast.

The temporary port is scheduled to be built in cooperation with several other countries in the region, which may take between 30 to 60 days. The aid is supposed to be shipped via sea lane from Cyprus.

– Joe Biden said in his address to the nation on Friday night that the establishment of a temporary dock would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian aid coming into Gaza.

The United States' decision to build a temporary port on the Gaza coast came after internal pressure and anger within the party due to Biden's support for Israel in its attack on Gaza since October 7, according to Reuters news agency.

– It is somewhat related to domestic politics in the United States. There are millions of people in the United States who have roots in the Middle East, so perhaps these are the people they are thinking about now before the presidential elections, says the SVT correspondent.

Ship with emergency assistance en route

Gaza has been subject to an Israeli naval blockade since 2007, when the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) took control of the Strip.

Indeed, during Friday, a ship belonging to the organization was on its way to Gaza in a pilot project, as announced by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in connection with the announcement of the sea corridor.

Biden: Israel must “do its part”

At the same time, the US President called on Israel to “do its part” and allow more aid in.

Humanitarian aid cannot be a secondary consideration or subject of negotiation. Biden said that protecting and saving innocent lives must be the priority.

He also says there will be no Americans on the ground in Gaza.

“There will be no American boots on the ground,” he said.

An Israeli official said that Israel “fully supports the establishment of a temporary bridge” on the Gaza coast.