British troops could be deployed on the ground in Gaza to help deliver aid via a new sea route, the BBC has learned.
The US has said no American forces would go ashore and an unnamed “third party” would drive trucks along a floating causeway onto the beach.
The UK is understood to be considering tasking British troops with this when the aid corridor opens next month.
Whitehall sources said no decision had been made and the issue had not yet crossed the prime minister’s desk.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Israeli army declined to comment.
Britain has been closely involved in planning the sea-borne aid operation and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the UK continued to take “a leading role in the delivery of support in coordination with the US and other international allies”.
The possible role for British forces – known as “wet boots” by military planners – would see them drive trucks off landing craft onto the temporary causeway and deliver aid to a secure distribution area ashore.
Although a huge effort would be made to protect allied forces both off and onshore, British troops would potentially face a higher risk of attack from Hamas and other armed groups.
On Wednesday, a United Nations team had to take cover when mortars landed near the planned distribution zone.
US defence officials confirmed an American army ship had begun work in the eastern Mediterranean to build a large floating pier.
Aid would be delivered there from Cyprus on large ships before being transferred into trucks and smaller landing craft. They said the floating causeway would be “several hundred metres long” and anchored firmly into the sand.
They said they hoped the new maritime corridor – which they call the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) operation – would ultimately deliver up to 150 trucks per day. (BBC)