It will take some time before ships carrying relief supplies can dock at the US-planned port in the Gaza Strip. In addition to the USA, Federal Economics Minister Habeck is also once again appealing to Israel to allow more aid transports.
The first ships carrying relief supplies for the Gaza Strip are expected to set off from Cyprus this weekend. But there is still no port there with enough draft to which large ships could head. The US wants to build such a port, but that could take up to two months, according to the US military.
“We expect that more than 1,000 soldiers will be involved in the construction of the facility. The time frame is several weeks, probably up to 60 days,” said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder. The US soldiers are supposed to install a floating pier some distance from the coast where large ships coming from Cyprus can dock.
According to Ryder’s account, the relief supplies are transferred from this floating pier to smaller US Navy ships and transported to a dam installed directly on the coast. From there, goods are to be brought ashore by truck and distributed in Gaza. Ryder said who will be responsible for distributing the relief supplies and being responsible for the security of the port is currently being clarified with partner countries in the region.
Habeck pledges support for the maritime corridor
US President Joe Biden confirmed plans for a port in the Gaza Strip in his State of the Union address. In addition to the USA, several countries are supporting the planned humanitarian aid by sea – including Germany. On Friday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized in a contribution to the short message service X: “More help must reach Gaza.” And the Foreign Office also said that “every aid package that arrives in Gaza counts.”
During his visit to the USA, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck also promised German support for the aid transports across the sea. The federal government has “always tried to make humanitarian aid possible.” He does not see a change of course in Germany’s dealings with Israel through its commitment to more humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip. “In my opinion, this is not a shift at all,” emphasized the Green politician. Basically, Germany strives for peace and protection for Israel.
However, Habeck called on Israel to change “its strategy in the Gaza Strip” in view of the drastic plight of the Palestinian population. Israel must continue to fight the terrorist militia Hamas, “but the number of civilian victims is too high,” warned Habeck. It is unacceptable “that the protection of the civilian population is not there at all, that epidemics are spreading, that people are suffering from hunger and may eventually die of hunger.” These are “unsustainable conditions”.
Biden is apparently running out of patience with Netanyahu
The USA is also increasingly criticizing Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden had repeatedly called for the Israeli government to allow more aid transports over land. The US President had also repeatedly insisted on greater protection for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
Shortly after the end of his State of the Union address, Biden suggested in conversations with ministers and senators that his patience with Netanyahu could soon be running out. According to US media, Biden spoke of a necessary “awakening experience” for Israel’s prime minister.
The USA’s demand for a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has so far remained unsuccessful. Biden had spoken out in favor of a six-week ceasefire that would come into force at the beginning of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. But so far Israel and Hamas have not been able to agree on a pause in fighting.
With information from Ralf Borchard, ARD Studio Washington
Ralf Borchard, ARD Washington, tagesschau, March 9, 2024 6:23 a.m