European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Cyprus on Friday to inspect preparations for sending aid to Gaza by sea, just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. military would temporarily establish a port off the coast of Gaza in the Mediterranean to support delivery operations.
The Commission President stated that food aid collected by a charity with support from the UAE could depart from Larnaca port in Cyprus today, Friday, as part of a trial run. She added, "We are launching this Cypriot maritime corridor together, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States."
While Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides stood beside her, she remarked, "We are very close to opening this corridor now, and we hope that will be on Saturday or Sunday of this week, and I am very pleased to see the initial trial launch today."
Efforts to intensify aid deliveries reflect the growing frustration of the U.S. and Europe regarding Israel's conduct in the war and the obstacles it places on delivering aid to those in need. Biden's announcement regarding the maritime port plan underscores that the U.S. sees the need to rally around Israel, its main ally in the Middle East and the largest recipient of U.S. military aid, to facilitate aid delivery to Gaza, including through air drops that began last week.
These efforts to establish a sea route for aid delivery come amid increasing concerns over the spread of hunger among Gaza's 2.3 million residents.
