- The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced on Thursday that a large floating pier is being built off the coast of northern Gaza to help facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged strip, which is expected to be operational by early May. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- Officials added that there would be no "US boots on the ground" in Gaza, meaning that the more than 1K American troops set to be involved in the construction would remain off the coast. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- According to the DoD, aid ships from Cyprus will unload their cargo at a floating dock before transport vessels deliver the aid to the pier. Once there, trucks will use a yet-to-be-built temporary causeway to take the cargo for distribution. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- Though a mortar attack was reported on the area this week, the US said it was unrelated to the mission and security will improve once the project is operational. Israel has pledged "to provide security and logistical support for the initiative." Associated Press (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- Meanwhile, cease-fire talks have slightly progressed, with an Israeli official reiterating the country's willingness to now only accept 33 living hostages in the first stage of the deal and make other concessions, such as allowing Palestinians to return to the north. The Times of Israel
- Though the war's intensity has decreased in recent weeks, with Israeli forces withdrawing from some areas of Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel must enter Rafah — where over 1M displaced Palestinians have taken refuge. Israel is expected to present its plans to the US soon. Washington Post (LR: 2 CP: 5)
Pro-establishment narrative:
- Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. However, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is rapidly getting out of hand, and the situation must be remedied. The Biden admin. is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of Palestinian civilians, and this port will be a highly effective way to get aid into Gaza.
VOICE OF AMERICA
Pro-Israel narrative:
- Israel will always be thankful for the US' steadfast support, but the Biden admin. needs to refrain from tying Israel's hands behind its back. Hamas is simply not interested in negotiating in good faith and has consistently shown its preference for violence. Biden is playing politics while Israeli soldiers fight and die for their country's very existence, and he must understand that Israel did not want this war. As the world forgets the horrors of Oct. 7, Israel will stand alone if need be to defend itself.
JERUSALEM POST (LR: 3 CP: 5)
Pro-Palestine narrative:
- The Biden admin., increasingly anxious over the upcoming election, has resorted to cheap tactics to deny its support for Israel's brutal war on Gaza. Regardless of the spin, Biden has armed Israel, given it diplomatic cover, and refused to call for a permanent cease-fire — all of which incentivizes continued bloodshed. Palestinians are literally starving to death, and Biden would rather wax about cockamamie plans for new aid delivery mechanisms like building a port instead of taking concrete action to deter Israel's criminal behavior — which would be unsustainable without US support.
MIDDLE EAST EYE
Nerd narrative:
- There's a 70% chance that Israel will have de facto power in the Gaza Strip on January 1, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)