Tens of thousands of Palestinians are dealing with an increasingly horrific humanitarian catastrophe, which authorities fear is plunging the region into starvation, as President Joe Biden spoke to Congress and the country on Thursday during his State of the Union address.
The likelihood of a short truce providing some much-needed relief for the beleaguered region appeared to be fading, despite Biden’s frequent expressions of hope to that effect. On Thursday, Biden made an announcement about initiatives that might provide some relief: the US military will start building a port in the region that could handle massive amounts of much needed food and medical supplies.
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During his speech on Thursday, Biden stated, “A temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day.” And Israel needs to play a role as well. Israel needs to permit more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and make sure that relief workers are not caught in the crossfire.
Additionally, Biden sent a message to Israeli leadership with some of his strongest words regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza since the start of the conflict. “Humanitarian aid cannot be used as a negotiating chip or as a secondary consideration. Biden stated that preserving and protecting innocent lives must come first. Biden continued, “A two-state solution is the only real way to resolve this conflict.”
The magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is highlighted by Biden’s declaration, as the UN World Food Program has warned that a famine is imminent and that 500,000 people could perish from starvation.
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, at least 20 individuals had perished as of Wednesday as a result of starvation and dehydration since the start of the conflict.
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According to health authorities in Gaza, the youngest child to pass away from malnutrition and a lack of medical care was just one day old. Since Israel started its constant air and ground assaults on Gaza shortly after Hamas’s October 7 attack, which claimed the lives of around 1,200 Israelis, more than 30,000 people have died in Gaza. When the port would be operational is unknown.
Furthermore, it’s unclear why the administration announced increased attempts to provide aid into the territory just after the State of the Union. The US military’s intention to build an aid port was welcomed by the UN, but officials argued that opening roads into the region was “the only solution” to prevent a famine.