A new port is under construction in the Gaza Strip ahead of a U.S.-led operation to bring more food and other much-needed aid to the besieged territory as the Israeli war on Hamas continues, according to satellite images. Construction appears to have been progressing rapidly over the past two weeks, and some officials say the port may be ready within a week. The port is located southwest of Gaza City, which was once the most densely populated area of the strip before the Israeli ground assault began, forcing more than a million people southward toward the city of Rafah on the Egyptian border.
Its construction comes as Israel faces widespread international criticism over the slow flow of aid to the region, with the United Nations stating that at least a quarter of the population lives on the brink of famine. However, the site has already been targeted by mortar fire, according to the Israeli military. An official from Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, warned that any foreign military presence on the dock would be a target for attack, potentially complicating aid efforts. Satellite images captured by Planet Labs BBC show that heavy construction at the site began over two weeks ago, with the area located north of the road that divides Gaza, built by the Israeli military during the fighting.
