President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address last night offered many pledges. Still, the announcement that he is directing the U.S. military to lead “an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast” to facilitate the transfer of aid to Palestinians is a politically cynical move that is frankly misguided. At face value, this latest objective seems like a virtuous humanitarian effort, but upon closer examination it is damaging on many levels, to Israel, the Palestinians, and ultimately the U.S. as well. ...

The Biden administration’s plan for an offshore port is ill-advised, and what the U.S. may think is helping the Palestinians may only perpetuate the conflict by empowering Hamas. Although intended as a temporary pier, this project may take years, as we have demonstrably seen that Palestinian aid efforts can exist in perpetuity. UNRWA was established 1949 to support Palestinian refugees after the 1948 War of Independence by providing them with aid while awaiting a resolution of their status. Now, 75 years later, Palestinian refugee numbers have grown from 800,000 to 5.6 million. UNRWA has enabled generations of victims while simultaneously encouraging violent aggression against Israel, as has now become evident since October 7, instead of fostering a resolution. It would not be surprising, therefore, if cries of Palestinian victimhood unwittingly force the U.S. to remain offshore longer than planned as Hamas remains unchecked.

Just as the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq was promised as a swift victory, with us only extricating ourselves eight years later, this “emergency” Gaza operation will certainly not be brief and American taxpayers will be stuck footing the bill. And, when the U.S. ultimately dismantles this offshore port – a very visible display of U.S. power – it will only breed resentment among the next generation of Palestinians, fomenting increased hatred of the U.S., and the world will villainize us for abandoning their “cause.” Essentially, we should not start something we won’t be able to finish well.