A pier built by the U.S. on the Gaza coast recently sustained weather-related damage yet remains operational. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM), from their headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base, has announced that the structure is still secure and functional despite the recent challenges.
Built to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza’s war-affected population, the pier’s operation faced setbacks when rough seas disrupted aid transfer from four U.S. Army vessels. The inclement weather caused the four vessels to break free from their moorings; two beached on the Israeli coast near Ashkelon, and two others anchored near the pier.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assisted in the recovery efforts, while U.S. personnel remained outside the Gaza Strip. Despite various challenges, humanitarian aid began arriving in Gaza through the pier last week after overcoming several days of logistical difficulties. The construction of the floating pier began late last month, pursuant to a directive from the Biden administration, which sought to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by facilitating the delivery of aid to Palestinians facing hardships.
However, the most concerning development is the reported theft of aid after its departure from the new U.S. pier in Gaza. Approximately three-quarters of the humanitarian aid shipped from the $320 million floating pier, built by the U.S. military off the coast of Gaza, has been stolen on its way to a U.N. warehouse.
The U.S. had previously halted the offloading of aid, but a recent press briefing revealed that trucks have resumed entering Gaza. Over 500 metric tons of food and additional humanitarian aid, which were offloaded at the pier, have now been transferred to humanitarian partners. A senior official from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) reported that two-thirds of this aid has been distributed or is currently being delivered to those in need.
As of the previous week, around 1.2 million pounds of aid were delivered to Gaza’s coast via a temporary pier, with the U.N. distributing two-thirds of this aid further within Gaza. The crisis persists, with nearly half of Gaza’s population, approximately 1.1 million Palestinians, facing extreme levels of hunger.
The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), an agency of the Defense Ministry, is collaborating with the United States to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Here is some background for those who aren’t aware of the temporary pier.
- Pier Construction and Purpose:The floating pier was constructed to streamline the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Aid is shipped from Cyprus to the pier, then transferred to trucks for distribution throughout Gaza. The pier is anchored to the beach in Gaza and serves as a crucial point for aid processing and distribution.
- Aid Delivery Process:Trucks laden with aid packages are transferred from cargo ships to Army watercraft at a staging platform two miles off Gaza’s coast. The trucks then navigate to the pier, where the humanitarian supplies are sorted in a marshaling area prior to distribution to different warehouses and locations within Gaza. Over the past few days, this operation has successfully delivered over a million pounds of aid to Palestinians.
- Recent Developments:The pier project encountered several challenges, notably a U.S. soldier sustaining serious injuries during the operation. Additionally, two other service members sustained injuries in non-combat-related incidents at sea. Originally, the plan was to connect the pier to the shore via a temporary causeway; however, due to disputes with Egypt, aid is currently being routed through southern Israel. Despite these setbacks, the flow of aid has commenced, delivering crucial assistance to the residents of Gaza.
Overall, the U.S. pier project aims to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by ensuring the efficient delivery of aid. It remains to be seen if that lofty goal can be accomplished in such a dense and dangerous war zone like Gaza.
Jim Williams covers the conflict between Israel and Hamas, offering comprehensive written articles and video coverage on various Middle Eastern issues.
Washington based CEO & Founder of LJC. Media covering politics, sports, & entertainment A seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director, and podcast host. Digital Director and Washington Bureau Chief at News Talk Florida & The Daily Cable
