Anticipated launch of Gaza seaport: Experts warn of unseen motives

Washington D.C. (Quds News Network) – In the aftermath of U.S. President Joe Biden’s announcement that he has given orders for the military to begin implementing a maritime aid corridor for Gaza, European officials anticipate the commencement of operations for the project next week. This move has raised questions, with some observers considering it a step in favor of Israel.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed her expectation of the maritime aid corridor between Cyprus and Gaza starting operations early next week to deliver much-needed assistance to Palestinians in the region.

She added that the first shipment of food aid through this corridor might depart from Larnaca Port in Cyprus on Friday, March 8, as a trial.

Britain joins U.S. efforts

In his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden revealed that he has assigned the U.S. military an urgent mission to establish a pier on the Gaza coast with the aim of delivering significant quantities of humanitarian aid.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron also announced the UK’s collaboration with the United States in opening a maritime corridor for direct aid delivery to Gaza.

He stated, “Alongside the United States, Britain and its partners declare the opening of a maritime corridor for direct aid delivery to Gaza.”

Israel was not far from these arrangements, as Israeli media quoted a senior Israeli official, unnamed, stating that Tel Aviv supports the establishment of a temporary floating pier to deliver humanitarian relief to the residents of Gaza, similar to what Biden mentioned.

According to the official, this initiative had been discussed between Israel and the United States in the past, and an agreement had been reached for coordination to implement it.

Port specifications

Hisham Khreisat, a Jordanian expert in military and strategic affairs, explained that the idea of establishing such a port was proposed ten years ago but did not come to light due to Israeli rejection at that time. The issue was reintroduced in conjunction with the Israeli aggression on Gaza, where Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz raised it, reaching an agreement and approval from Cyprus and Greece for this step.

Khreisat pointed out that the initial cost of the project is estimated at $35 million, to be covered by the United States. The depth of the pier for ships will not be less than 17 meters to accommodate all aid ships.

He mentioned that the port’s area will be 6 square kilometers, including floating hospitals that can treat around 2.3 million Palestinian civilians in Gaza, in addition to floating shelters alongside the hospitals.

Khreisat clarified that a port in Cyprus paid for by the United States will be designated, and ships will reach the port on the shores of Khan Yunis city on the coast of Gaza. The distance from the port in Cyprus to the U.S. port in Gaza is estimated at 387 kilometers.

He emphasized that the ships would first go to the Israeli port of Ashdod for inspection and examination, then, under Israeli naval control, proceed to the Gaza Strip.

Hidden agendas

Despite the “humanitarian aspect” of Biden’s announcement and delivering relief aid to Gaza, Khreisat indicates that there is another aspect related to encouraging the voluntary migration of Palestinians to Europe and eliminating any role for the Rafah land crossing on the border with Egypt.

He considered that “the floating pier on the shores of Gaza, its appearance is aid, but its essence is voluntary migration to Europe.”

Khreisat noted that establishing such a port will undoubtedly take Rafah crossing out of service because Israel does not trust it and considers it the main entry point for weapons for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

He also pointed out that Biden is very concerned about what will result from the Israeli army’s invasion of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and the failure to end the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. This situation will impact the U.S. election results, so he will hasten to build the port.

Rafah Border Crossing is the only gateway for Gaza to the outside world, especially concerning the entry of humanitarian aid during this war, during which Israel restricted the entry of aid to the Strip, threatening a famine, especially in the northern regions.

Individuals and goods used to move to and from the Gaza Strip through six crossings: Beit Hanoun (Erez), Karni, Nahal Oz, Kerem Abu Salem, Sofa, in addition to Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt.

After the siege imposed by Israel on Gaza since 2007, all crossings were closed except for Rafah and Beit Hanoun, which were designated for the movement of individuals, and Kerem Abu Salem, which was allocated for the transport of goods.

International appeals

The U.S. announcement and Britain’s swift participation, along with Israel’s approval, have not succeeded in halting calls for the reopening of Gaza’s crossings.

Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for an immediate end to the conflict in Gaza, urging the cessation of killing and destruction.

The UN official demanded the complete opening of border crossings and the necessary steps to ensure the free and safe movement of aid convoys to civilians wherever they are.

The spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that any ground attack on Rafah would lead to severe loss of life and increase the risk of more heinous crimes.