President Biden is set to unveil a proposal for the US military to establish a temporary aid port in Gaza.

 President Joe Biden is expected to reveal a strategy to establish a new port in Gaza aimed at enhancing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the conflict-affected region, according to senior US officials briefing reporters. The announcement is slated to occur during Thursday night's State of the Union speech, an annual address delivered to members of the US Congress.

As per the proposal, the US military would establish a pier off the coast of Gaza, with the clarification that US troops would not be deployed on the ground, as outlined by the officials. While specific logistics were not disclosed, one official mentioned that the US possesses "unique capabilities" and can operate effectively "just offshore."

The United Nations spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, expressed the organization's approval of the announcement in a press statement.

Dujarric stated to reporters, "Any means of increasing aid to Gaza, be it through sea or airdrop, is undoubtedly beneficial. We require more access points and a greater volume of aid delivered by land."

However, he underscored the importance for the international community to prioritize substantial food deliveries by land to effectively address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

As President Biden faces ongoing criticism for supporting Israel in the Gaza conflict, the administration has refrained from calling for a complete ceasefire and has continued supplying weapons to Israel. The bombardment and ground operations by Israel have resulted in the death of at least 30,800 Palestinians since October 7. While under heightened political pressure, there has been a slight shift in the administration's tone. Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris, for the first time, called for a temporary "ceasefire," although her reference was specifically related to a pause in fighting during negotiations between Hamas and Israel for a hostage exchange.

During the weekend, the US initiated the airdrop of aid to Gaza, a region where Jamie McGoldrick, the UN's Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, conveyed to reporters on Wednesday that "children are dying from hunger."

The UN has issued a statement indicating that a state of famine in Gaza is "almost inevitable," and this declaration could occur as early as next week. McGoldrick stressed that while air drops and naval deliveries assist in distributing aid, an urgent need for a substantial increase in reliable ground deliveries exists.

Aid organizations have accused Israeli forces of impeding ground deliveries both into and within Gaza, an accusation denied by Israel, asserting it is not hindering relief efforts.

In a post on the social media platform X, Sarah Leah Whitson, the executive director of Washington-based Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), characterized the latest Biden plan as one of many "workarounds to Israel's deliberate and persistent blockade of aid to Gaza."

Earlier in the day, Michael Fakhri, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, warned that Israel's actions extend beyond short-term impediments, constituting a broader assault on Gaza's stability, described as "destroying the food system."

"Israel is not only denying and restricting the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel is destroying the food system in Gaza,” he said in a speech to the UN Human Rights Council.

Fakhri called it a “starvation campaign”.

Regarding the new port, senior US officials stated that it "will facilitate the capacity for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day." One official mentioned that planning and executing this significant capability will require several weeks. The transportation of supplies will also necessitate the establishment of a maritime corridor from Cyprus.

The officials confirmed that Israel had been informed about the plan, and both countries are collaborating on security requirements. Additionally, the US is coordinating with "partners and allies," including the UN and various aid organizations.