How Biden's Floating Pier For Gaza Paves Way To US Boots On The Ground

Independent journalist and political commentator Michael Tracey has said that President Biden's order for the US military to establish a temporary port on Gaza's coastline to begin sea deliveries of humanitarian aid in truth means the Pentagon is escalating its role in the Israel-Hamas war.

While Biden had emphasized in his Thursday night State of the Union address that there will be no US boots on the ground in Gaza, the next day he told reporters that "the Israelis" will provide security for the planned port, given that it is in a war zone. Tracey observed of these remarks that "This would make the US an open co-administrator of Israel’s military operation."

Also on Friday, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder was asked by a reporter whether the Pentagon believes Hamas militants will target American forces operating offshore. Notably, Ryder responded by saying this is "certainly possible" — in full acknowledgement of the risk to US forces and assets conducting the operation.