In his State of the Union address on Thursday night, President Biden revealed plans for the US military to construct a temporary port near the Gaza Strip's coast to aid in the distribution of crucial assistance. The initiative seeks to bring American troops closer to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, without requiring them to set foot in the war-torn Palestinian territory.

According to an official briefing reporters on a press call, this mission will leverage "unique capabilities" that will allow troops to remain "just offshore," ensuring the safety of US service members. The president's announcement highlighted the establishment of a port in the Mediterranean, on the Gaza coast, where large ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters can dock to provide much-needed aid.

While certain details of the mission remain undisclosed, such as the specific location of the port and the precise plans for aid distribution, American officials indicated that there had been close collaboration with the Israeli authorities in developing the initiative. This suggests that the port is likely to be set up in an area controlled by Israel rather than in the besieged territories still held by Hamas.

The temporary pier at the proposed port promises to significantly enhance the capacity for delivering assistance, accommodating hundreds of additional truckloads of aid each day. The US military will collaborate with the Israeli government on land security requirements, while also seeking coordination with the United Nations and humanitarian NGOs for the efficient distribution of aid within Gaza.

President Biden's decision to establish the temporary aid port aims to address the concerns of anti-Israel protesters who have labeled him "Genocide Joe" and disrupted his public remarks. However, it has already drawn criticism from House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), who argues that the plan could risk diverting US taxpayer-funded aid into the hands of Hamas and endanger the lives of American servicemembers.

This move follows President Biden's recent announcement of airdrops of aid in conjunction with Jordan's air force to supplement the limited truck access into the conflict zone. He also floated the idea of a "marine corridor." While the latest aid plan does not involve US troops engaging in combat with Hamas, it is crucial to note that American personnel have previously come under attack across the Middle East, even when not directly involved in conflicts.

For instance, on January 28, three US troops were killed by a drone launched by a group supported by Iran near a remote American outpost in Jordan. Iran, which also backs Hamas, has repeatedly targeted commercial ships traversing the Red Sea. Consequently, the safety of humanitarian missions cannot be guaranteed, as evidenced by the 1983 truck bombings in Beirut, suspected to be supported by Iran, which claimed the lives of 241 American soldiers serving as part of an international peacekeeping mission during Lebanon's civil war.

President Biden's push to establish a temporary aid port near the Gaza Strip reflects his administration's commitment to providing essential assistance and addressing the needs of the conflict-affected region. However, the announcement sparks debates over the allocation of resources and potential risks associated with the distribution of aid in a volatile context.