The D Brief: Houthis renew ship attacks; More ATACMS to Ukraine; Gaza pier update; Changes at SOF school; And a bit more.
Defense OneApr 18
US Military Begins Building Floating Pier off Northern Gaza Coast
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Image copyright: David Resnick/US Army via Stars and Stripes
The Facts
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.
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.
The Spin
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.
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.
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.
