US announces plan for temporary port on Gaza coast to increase aid flow

Joe Biden has ordered the US military to set up a temporary port on the Gaza coast to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave.

In his State of the Union address on Thursday, the US president shared details of a pier which is to be built to allow more shipments of food, medicine and other essential items.

The announcement will not see US troops deployed to build the pier and could take several weeks of construction before it is operational.

President Biden also used his speech to reiterate calls for Israel to better protect civilians and aid workers in Gaza.

He said: "To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip."

Access points into Gaza are currently limited, with trucks only permitted to enter through Rafah, the southernmost city of the territory.

Consequently, aid organisations have been left struggling to support people in northern Gaza, where an estimated 300,000 people have been reduced to eating animal fodder to survive.

Across the past week the US has carried out three air drops, launching thousands of meals from cargo planes into Gaza.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...

But as the Israeli military offensive enters its fifth month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced growing calls to facilitate further aid deliveries to relieve the humanitarian crisis.

Israeli officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, say from this Friday more regular deliveries of aid will be allowed into northern Gaza from Israel.

Humanitarian organisations have previously said coordination issues with the Israeli military and ongoing hostilities between Israel and proscribed terror group Hamas have made it nearly impossible to deliver support into Gaza.

But Israel says it is not blocking support from entering the territory, claiming hundreds of trucks filled with aid are siting idle on the Palestinian side of the main crossing into Gaza.

Last week, an attempt by the Israeli military to facilitate the movement of aid ended in tragedy when more than 100 Palestinians were fatally shot by Israeli forces or trampled to death in a melee.

Hopes of ceasefire talks have crumbled as the families of Hamas held hostages continue to plead for the end to fighting, ITV News Senior International Correspondent John Ray and ITV News Correspondent Emma Murphy reports

Thursday marked five months since an unprecedented Hamas attack into southern Israel killed 1,200 people and led to around 250 others being taken hostage.

Israel's ensuing military operation in the Gaza Strip has currently killed more than 30,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

Efforts to pause Israeli military action in the territory have so far proved unsuccessful.

In recent days, the US, Qatar and Egypt have been working on a temporary six-week ceasefire deal which would have seen Hamas release up to 40 hostages.

Hamas, however, has demanded a permanent ceasefire and the immediate withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

Have you heard our podcast Talking Politics? Every week Tom, Robert and Anushka dig into the biggest issues dominating the political agenda…