Biden directs US military to establish temporary pier for aid to Gaza
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During his State of the Union address, the US President calls on "Israel" not to turn humanitarian assistance into "a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip."
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US President Joe Biden coughs as he delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2024. (AFP)
US President Joe Biden announced Friday during his State of the Union address that he is directing his military to lead the mission that will establish a temporary pier that will bring humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
"Tonight, I’m directing the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters," he said during his speech.
"No US boots will be on the ground," Biden claimed.
He added that the temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza, but stressed that "Israel" must play its part in the process for it to be successful.
Earlier, a senior Biden administration official said the temporary port will feature a pier that will "provide the capacity for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day."
According to the official, the shipments will be screened by the United States and partners in European Union member Cyprus.
Gazans are facing dire shortages of food, water, and medicine, with the United Nations warning of the risk of famine. The entire population of 2.2 million is in crisis or worse levels of food insecurity, according to the World Food Program.
Biden on Friday called on the Israeli occupation entity to "allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the crossfire."
"To the leadership of Israel I say this -- Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority," he said in his annual address.
The US President reiterated his claim that "Israel has a right to go after Hamas," but mentioned that the Israeli forces also have "a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza."
He added that the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas could end the fighting by releasing the captives, "laying down arms, and surrendering those responsible for October 7."
Biden addressed the families of captives held by the Resistance saying, "I pledge to all the families that we will not rest" until they are released.
He called the impact on Gaza "heartbreaking", recalling that "this war has taken a greater toll on innocent civilians than all previous wars in Gaza combined."
He also acknowledged that "more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed. Most of whom are not Hamas. Thousands and thousands are innocent women and children."
Biden claimed that his administration has been "working nonstop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last for six weeks."
According to the US President, the six-week truce would ensure the release of the captives held in Gaza, "ease the intolerable humanitarian crisis, and build toward something more enduring."
He also reiterated his support for the creation of a Palestinian state, adding that "the only real solution is a two-state solution."
"I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel. My entire career, no one has a stronger record with Israel. I challenge any of you here," Biden added.
Outside the US Capitol, where Biden delivered his speech, dozens of pro-Palestine protesters held a demonstration against the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.
Calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the protesters blocked part of Pennsylvania Avenue and held a large Palestinian flag.
“Biden’s legacy is genocide,” one of the displayed banners read.
#Watch | Pro-#Palestine protesters near the US Capitol display a banner reading, "Biden’s legacy is genocide," ahead of the President's #StateOfTheUnion speech.#Gaza pic.twitter.com/11N5t21sPW
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 8, 2024
The demonstration coincided with a similar one outside the White House, where the crowd called on the Biden administration to end its support to the Israeli occupation entity.
The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the United States has clandestinely approved and executed more than 100 arms deals and foreign military sales to the Israeli regime since the onset of the war on Gaza in October 2023.
