US Plan to Build Temporary Port in Gaza Criticized as Diversion from Humanitarian Crisis
In a recent State of the Union speech, US President Joe Biden announced plans to build a temporary port off Gaza’s coast to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. However, this plan has been met with criticism, with many arguing that it is merely a distraction from the dire humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians facing starvation. Israel’s consistent blocking of assistance to the enclave has only exacerbated the crisis. While the Biden administration has criticized Israel for restricting the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, it continues to supply the Israeli military with weapons and remains a staunch ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
President Biden provided few logistical details about the operation, but US officials have stated that it will take several weeks to plan and execute. The operation does not involve the deployment of US military personnel in Gaza, with Biden emphasizing that “no US boots will be on the ground.”
Critics argue that the plan to build a port in Gaza is merely an attempt to divert attention from the real issue at hand – the starvation and suffering of the Palestinian people. Mustafa Barghouti, the secretary general of the Palestinian National Initiative, stated that “700,000 people are starving in north Gaza now, and Israel is not allowing humanitarian aid to them or the rest of the Gaza Strip.” He believes that the international community is not doing enough to pressure Israel to lift its blockade.
Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, sees Biden’s announcement as more of a theatrical move than a sincere attempt to address the suffering in Gaza. He argues that it is a way for Biden to reaffirm his support for Israel and appease critics within his own party.
The United Nations coordinator for humanitarian and reconstruction in Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, welcomed the US plans to provide sea access for aid delivery. However, she stressed that air and sea routes are not a substitute for land crossings. The existing land crossings, such as Karem Abu Salem and Rafah, are faster, safer, and more economical for aid delivery. Tamara Alrifai, a spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestinians, echoed this sentiment, stating that there are constant requests for a ceasefire that would allow an influx of humanitarian assistance.
Melanie Ward, the CEO of Medical Aid for Palestinians, argues that temporary solutions like airdrops and seaports are not realistic or lasting. She emphasizes the need for immediate action to reopen the land crossings into Gaza and calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire to allow for a massive humanitarian response.
The history of Israel’s control over Gaza’s coastline and territorial waters dates back to 1967. Since 2007, Israel has shut down almost all of Gaza’s border crossings, leaving the enclave isolated. Its port has been under Israel’s naval blockade, making it the only seaport in the Mediterranean closed to shipping.
The dire situation in Gaza was further highlighted when Israeli forces opened fire on hundreds of families waiting for food aid, resulting in the deaths of at least 112 Palestinians and over 750 wounded.
As the US plans to build a temporary port in Gaza come under scrutiny, it is clear that more needs to be done to address the humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people. While providing sea access for aid delivery is a step in the right direction, it should not be seen as a substitute for reopening the land crossings and achieving a lasting ceasefire. Only through immediate action and international pressure can the suffering in Gaza be alleviated.
