US Military Begins Building Floating Pier off Northern Gaza Coast

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Facts

  • The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced on Thursday that a large floating pier is being built off the coast of northern Gaza to help facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged strip, which is expected to be operational by early May.1
  • Officials added that there would be no 'US boots on the ground' in Gaza, meaning that the more than 1K American troops set to be involved in the construction would remain off the coast.1
  • According to the DoD, aid ships from Cyprus will unload their cargo at a floating dock before transport vessels deliver the aid to the pier. Once there, trucks will use a yet-to-be-built temporary causeway to take the cargo for distribution.1
  • Though a mortar attack was reported on the area this week, the US said it was unrelated to the mission and security will improve once the project is operational. Israel has pledged 'to provide security and logistical support for the initiative.'2
  • Meanwhile, cease-fire talks have slightly progressed, with an Israeli official reiterating the country's willingness to now only accept 33 living hostages in the first stage of the deal and make other concessions, such as allowing Palestinians to return to the north.3
  • Though the war's intensity has decreased in recent weeks, with Israeli forces withdrawing from some areas of Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel must enter Rafah — where over 1M displaced Palestinians have taken refuge. Israel is expected to present its plans to the US soon.4

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Associated Press, 3The Times of Israel and 4Washington Post.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Voice of America. Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. However, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is rapidly getting out of hand, and the situation must be remedied. The Biden admin. is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of Palestinian civilians, and this port will be a highly effective way to get aid into Gaza.
  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Israel will always be thankful for the US' steadfast support, but the Biden admin. needs to refrain from tying Israel's hands behind its back. Hamas is simply not interested in negotiating in good faith and has consistently shown its preference for violence. Biden is playing politics while Israeli soldiers fight and die for their country's very existence, and he must understand that Israel did not want this war. As the world forgets the horrors of Oct. 7, Israel will stand alone if need be to defend itself.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. The Biden admin., increasingly anxious over the upcoming election, has resorted to cheap tactics to deny its support for Israel's brutal war on Gaza. Regardless of the spin, Biden has armed Israel, given it diplomatic cover, and refused to call for a permanent cease-fire — all of which incentivizes continued bloodshed. Palestinians are literally starving to death, and Biden would rather wax about cockamamie plans for new aid delivery mechanisms like building a port instead of taking concrete action to deter Israel's criminal behavior — which would be unsustainable without US support.

Predictions