Biden’s Gaza port gamble seems ill thought through and risks drawing US into war – and putting Americans in harm’s way
Israel has continued insisting there isn’t a huge need for more aid in Gaza – enough is getting in, say its officials, with more food than before the war, they’ve even claimed.
It’s all the UN’s fault for not distributing it properly, they add.
Well, President Joe Biden‘s stunning Gaza port announcement is clearly a sign that the US is not buying any of that.
This is the American government saying it’s going to have to send its military potentially into harm’s way to make up for the failure of its own ally.
The Israelis have said they welcome the decision and will fully cooperate with it.
And apart from the fact it shows up some glaring shortcomings in its handling of the war, this is good news for Israel. The aid will all be screened in Cyprus – so there’s no worry about weapons being smuggled in.
It relieves Israel of its responsibilities to meet the humanitarian needs of the civilian population whose land they are occupying.
And it draws America into this war – which means when it’s over maybe the US will take more of a role in Gaza -something the Israelis would love to see.
But there are so many questions.
What other mission creep will this lead to?
How will the Americans guarantee their own safety? There are plenty of groups supported by Iran in Gaza who would love to strike a blow at US forces and cover themselves in Islamist glory.
Analysis from the US:
Biden’s decision shows his desperation
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Israel insists no limits on aid entering Gaza
Or what happens if a stray Hamas rocket or Israeli missile hits a group of US engineers and kills a few in an election year? The jeopardy for Joe Biden is obvious.
And why is this necessary?
The Erez crossing on Gaza’s northern border lies idle.
It could be opened tomorrow to allow aid to be funnelled in and landed from the Israeli ports of Ashdod and Ashkelon, also from Cyprus. That would be a lot safer and easier to pull off.
Read more:
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The decision seems desperate and ill thought through.
It is without doubt quite a gamble for the American president who will be running against a man who sees votes in American isolation and withdrawal from foreign places.
Then, of course, the tragically obvious point – Americans are good at building military infrastructure but not quickly.
It will take weeks and the poor starving people of Gaza cannot wait that long.
“Super high-IQ revolutionaries” who are willing to work 80+ hours a week are being urged to join Elon Musk’s new cost-cutting department in Donald Trump’s incoming US government.
The X and Tesla owner will co-lead the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
And in a post on X, the official DOGE account put out a call to arms for people to sign up and help “dismantle government bureaucracy”.
The post said: “We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE.
“We don’t need more part-time idea generators.
“We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.
“If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants.”
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Elon Musk speaking at an event held at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Pic: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
In a reply to an interested party, Mr Musk suggested the lucky applicants would be working for free.
“Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lost of enemies & compensation is zero,” the world’s richest man wrote.
“What a great deal!”
When announcing the new department, President-elect Donald Trump said Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies”.
Mr Musk has previously made clear his desire to see cuts to “government waste” and in a post on his X platform suggested he could axe as many as three-quarters of the more than 400 federal departments in the US, writing: “99 is enough.”
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
Read more from Sky News:
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The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
Read more from Sky News:
Mass displacement in Gaza – people unsure where to go
Donald Trump picks vaccine sceptic as health secretary
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
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