An U.S. Army vessel carrying equipment for the construction of a temporary pier in Gaza is making its way to the Eastern Mediterranean, signifying an increased effort to address the dire humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave. This comes just three days after U.S. President Joe Biden announced plans to boost aid deliveries by sea to Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are facing food shortages.

The decision to ramp up aid deliveries coincides with the impending start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Hopes for a new ceasefire by Ramadan had waned, with negotiations currently at a standstill. In an attempt to bypass Israeli control over land shipments, the opening of the sea corridor, combined with airdrops by the U.S., Jordan, and others, demonstrates a growing alarm over the deadly humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Israel has welcomed the sea deliveries and assured that the Gaza-bound cargo will be inspected before it departs from a staging area in Cyprus. However, aid officials warn that air and sea deliveries alone cannot compensate for the shortage of supply routes via land. The number of aid trucks entering Gaza from the land has been significantly lower than before the war, with an average of less than 500 per day in the past five months.

The Spanish aid group Open Arms plans to send a ship carrying 200 tons of food aid to Gaza to test the newly established sea corridor. The vessel from Open Arms, currently stationed at Cyprus' port of Larnaca, remains in a rapidly evolving and fluid situation, according to spokesperson Linda Roth from partner organization World Central Kitchen.

President Biden, in a recent interview with MSNBC, criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, stating that Netanyahu is "hurting Israel more than helping Israel." While expressing support for Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, Biden emphasized the need to minimize civilian casualties and the loss of innocent lives. The Health Ministry in Gaza reports that at least 31,045 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, have been killed since the war began.

Amidst the ongoing conflict, Palestinian casualties continue to rise. The tragic airstrike on a house in Gaza City on Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians, including children. Additionally, 15 bodies, including women and children, were taken to the main hospital in Deir al-Balah on Sunday, with relatives claiming they were killed by Israeli artillery fire near a displaced Palestinian camp.

It will likely take several weeks before the temporary pier in Gaza is fully operational, according to U.S. officials. The sea corridor initiative is supported by the European Union, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries, with U.N. agencies and the Red Cross set to play a role. Construction work for the jetty began on Sunday at an undisclosed location in Gaza, with aid expected to be offloaded and transported to the northern region, which has been severely impacted by the military offensive.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, following an attack by Hamas militants. Subsequently, Israel's air and ground offensive has led to significant destruction and the displacement of approximately 80% of Gaza's population, which amounts to 2.3 million people. Mediators, including the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, had aimed to establish a six-week ceasefire before Ramadan. However, Hamas is seeking assurances that a temporary truce will result in a comprehensive end to hostilities. The proposed ceasefire would have involved the release of hostages and prisoners, as well as increased access to aid for Gaza.

As the humanitarian crisis worsens in Gaza, the international community and aid organizations are striving to alleviate the immediate suffering and work towards finding a sustainable solution to the conflict.