President Biden is to announce that the US military will lead an emergency mission to build a new port in Gaza for humanitarian aid.

In his State of the Union address, Biden will outline a plan for a temporary pier that will allow hundreds of trucks in every day.

The aid operation will be coordinated with Israel, the UN and humanitarian organisations, however it won’t be up and running for a few weeks, US. officials told the press.

The first shipments will come from Cyprus and the aid will pass through security checks that involve Israeli officials.

U.S. soldiers building the pier will do it from U.S. Navy vessels.

A senior U.S. official said: “The current plan doesn't include any U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza."

It comes less than a week after the U.S. started airdropping aid in Gaza.

Biden is pressing for a ceasefire and hostage deal before Ramadan begins this weekend. He is facing stiff pressure within his own party and from Democratic voters to end the war and get more aid into Gaza.

A senior administration official said: “Tonight in the speech, the President will announce that he's directing the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a port in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water medicine, and temporary shelters.”