US dispatches aid ship to Gaza

US CENTCOM via X/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

The U.S. Army has deployed the General Frank S. Besson to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to Central Command (CENTCOM). This action comes within 36 hours of President Joe Biden's commitment to constructing a temporary pier for supplying assistance to the besieged enclave. The logistics support vessel is currently transporting the initial equipment needed to establish a temporary pier for the delivery of crucial humanitarian supplies, departing from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.

President Biden's announcement during the State of the Union address followed U.N. warnings of a looming famine in Gaza, affecting its 2.3 million Palestinians, five months after Israel's offensive in response to an attack by Hamas militants. With no existing port infrastructure in Gaza, the U.S. plans to use Cyprus initially, which offers a screening process for cargoes involving Israeli officials, eliminating the need for security checks in Gaza.

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