US to Build Temporary Port in Gaza for Humanitarian Aid Delivery

President Joe Biden is expected to announce in his State of the Union address on Thursday that the US military will construct a temporary port on Gaza's Mediterranean coast to increase humanitarian aid to the region. The project will not involve US troops being deployed on the ground in Gaza, and initial shipments are set to arrive via Cyprus. The port is estimated to allow hundreds of truckloads of food and other supplies to reach Gazans daily. However, there are questions about how the aid will make its way to the population in need, as Hamas has not yet reached a deal with Israel for a ceasefire or the release of hostages. Some articles suggest that the plan involves constructing a floating pier off Gaza's coast using ships, while others do not provide further logistical details. Mainstream Democrats are urging Biden to be more vocal in his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and to push for a long-term solution to the conflict that includes a Palestinian state. The death toll in Gaza has been rising inexorably, with an estimated 30,800 Palestinians killed and more at risk of starvation. US Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a stern statement on the war's toll earlier this week. There are differences in the reporting regarding the number of troops involved in the project, with some articles suggesting hundreds or thousands of US troops will be required to build the pier offshore.