President Joe Biden emphasized during his State of the Union address Israel’s need to allow more aid into Gaza and to prioritize the civilian Palestinian population in the enclave.
Israel’s war on Hamas has devastated the strip, creating a worsening humanitarian situation on the ground. The United States is among several countries and international entities trying to get more assistance into Gaza.
“Israel has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population like cowards, under hospitals, day care centers, and the like,” he said. “But Israel also has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza.”
Biden, to that end, announced during his Thursday night address to both chambers of Congress that the U.S. military would be tasked with building a port in the Mediterranean Sea off Gaza’s coast to increase the amount of aid for Gaza.
While a senior administration official told reporters the process could take weeks before it’s operational, the official noted that it “will provide the capacity for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day.”
The port will allow for ships to bring in food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters.
Biden said no U.S. boots will be on the ground but did not specify how they would build the port and who they could work with to get aid where it needs to go within Gaza once it gets there.
Once it’s operational, the U.S. would be providing aid to Gaza through the air, sea, and land. This week, the U.S. military carried out three targeted airdrops of more than 110,000 meals, and more are expected.
The president urged Israel to “do its part” by allowing “more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the crossfire,” and he added, “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.”
Biden has supported Israel’s right to self-defense following the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack, the deadliest in Israel’s history, which resulted in the deaths of roughly 1,200 people. Hamas also took roughly 250 people hostage, more than a hundred of whom are believed to still be held by the terrorist group in Gaza. Half a dozen Americans are believed to be among the hostages.
“Here in the chamber tonight are families whose loved ones are still being held by Hamas,” the president said. “I pledge to all the families that we will not rest until we bring every one of your loved ones home.”
The U.S., Egypt, and Qatar are acting as mediators between Israel and Hamas. They have sought to get both sides to agree to a temporary ceasefire agreement for months, but the sides remain stuck. The deal the U.S. is pushing includes a six-week ceasefire and a surge in aid in exchange for the release of the hostages.
“Hamas could end this conflict today by releasing the hostages, laying down arms, and surrendering those responsible for Oct. 7,” Biden added. “I’ve been working nonstop to establish an immediate ceasefire that lasts for six weeks to get all the prisoners released, all of the hostages released. [It would get] the hostages home and ease the intolerable humanitarian crisis and build toward something more enduring.”
The parties have sought to get a deal in place before Sunday, which marks the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but an agreement remains elusive. Ismail Haniyeh, a leader of Hamas, has called for violence over Ramadan, prompting U.S. concern.
“We recognize that extremists could try to use Ramadan to spark something,” the administration official said. “That would be deeply unfortunate in that holy month. And we want to make sure that we have a peaceful period so people can worship. And obviously, we’re working that through with the Israelis, with the Palestinian Authority, with Jordanians and others.”
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Notably, Biden did not call for a complete ceasefire as many more progressive members of his party have sought for months. Administration officials have said they do not support a permanent ceasefire that would keep Hamas in power in Gaza.
The president reiterated his support for a lasting two-state solution as well.
