The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced today, Tuesday, that the United States does not intend to send American troops to Gaza to enhance aid distribution efforts, in statements that seemingly downplay the proposal to establish a port run by the U.S. military or a landing site for distributing aid by sea. Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder said in a press conference, "At this time, there are no plans to deploy American forces on the ground in Gaza."