Biden to announce "emergency mission" to build port in Gaza for aid shipments [View all]

[Donkees]

President Biden will announce in his "State of the Union" speech on Thursday that he ordered the U.S. military to conduct an "emergency mission" to open up a maritime route for humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

The plan to establish a temporary port in Gaza is the most significant U.S. humanitarian initiative since the Israel-Hamas war began and shows the sense of urgency inside the White House over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The announcement is also a way for Biden to show to his critics inside the Democratic Party that he is taking more steps to address the crisis.

Aid will arrive at the temporary port via Cyprus, U.S. officials said in a briefing with reporters ahead of the speech.

Efforts were already underway to coordinate shipments by sea but the biggest complication was where ships would dock to offload supplies.

The announcement comes less than a week after the U.S. began airdropping aid into Gaza. Biden is facing growing pressure abroad and at home to do more to restrain Israel, encourage a ceasefire, and get more aid in Gaza. The UN has warned "famine is almost inevitable" in Gaza if nothing changes.

https://www.axios.com/2024/03/07/biden-port-gaza-humanitarian-aid-state-union