A ship laden with relief supplies for Gaza
was preparing to depart Cyprus as part of efforts to alleviate the hunger crisis in Gaza, as the United States military prepared to construct a temporary pier off the Gaza coast to improve the viability of such a route.
Cyprus lies about 340 kilometers northwest of Gaza, about 15 hours by ship.
The European Commission has said a maritime aid corridor between Cyprus and Gaza could start operating as early as today in a pilot project run by an international World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity and financed by the UAE.
A spokesperson for WCK said the intention was to sail to Gaza, where the kitchen and its partners were building a jetty, unrelated to the American jetty project.
US intentions to transfer aid by sea
The United States and the European Union are working to open up a maritime route between Cyprus and Gaza, as they seek additional avenues to bring food and goods into the enclave, whose basic service structure has been destroyed by the Israel-Hamas war.
US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday night during his State of the Union address to Congress that he was “directing the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters.”
Israel has pledged to work with the United States on the maritime route. IDF spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters that Israel would fully inspect all the items entering Gaza through the sea.
The US decision to open up a maritime route into Gaza follows the start of a program by which its air force has air-dropped food supplies into the Strip.
Washington has harshly criticized Jerusalem for not doing enough to ensure that humanitarian assistance has reached the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza.
Initial sea corridor as start to ongoing aid
On Thursday night during his State of the Union address, Biden said that “Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the crossfire.”
He stressed that Israel could not use humanitarian aid as a lever to pressure Hamas to make a deal for the remaining 134 hostages in the enclave.
“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.”
Before the speech, Biden said he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the two of them were headed for a “come to Jesus” meeting over the issue of getting humanitarian aid into Gaza, according to a video clip posted on Friday.
Biden was recorded commenting on Thursday night while on Capitol Hill for his speech, in what appeared to be a further sign of his frustration at dealing with Netanyahu over the issue of Gaza.
In the clip, posted on social media by Democratic consultant Sawyer Hackett, the president can be seen talking to Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennett, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“I told him: ‘Bibi – and don’t repeat this – but you and I are going to have a “come to Jesus” meeting,’” Biden said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. “I’m on a hot mic here. Good. That’s good.”
“Come to Jesus” is an American expression for having a blunt conversation.
Reporters asked Biden about the episode as he departed on Air Force One to Philadelphia.
“I didn’t say that,” he said initially, apparently referring to the fact that the comment was not in the Gaza section of his State of the Union speech.
But when pressed about what he said after the speech, he said: “You guys eavesdropped on me.”