According to the Pentagon’s announcement on Tuesday, the temporary pier, constructed by the U.S. to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians, will be dismantled from the Gaza coast for repairs following damage caused by severe weather and rough seas. Within the next two days, the structure will be transported to Ashdod, a city in southern Israel, for restoration by the U.S. Central Command, as reported by Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.
She stated that the repairs would require “at least more than a week,” after which the pier must be re-anchored to the Gaza beach. This pier, crucial for delivering humanitarian aid by sea, remains one of the limited avenues for food, water, and other essentials to reach Palestinians, whom the U.N. has declared are on the verge of famine due to the ongoing eight-month conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
- Damage and Repair: The pier off the coast of Gaza will be removed for repairs following damage. Within the next two days, it will be transported to Ashdod in southern Israel. The U.S. Central Command is set to manage the repair work, anticipated to last at least a week. Once repaired, the pier must be re-anchored to the Gaza beach. Serving as an essential conduit for delivering food, water, and supplies to Palestinians facing famine amid the war between Israel and Hamas, this pier’s challenges continue, adding to the difficulties faced since the start of its recent operations.
- Previous Incidents: The pier witnessed injuries to three U.S. service members and the beaching of four vessels due to rough seas. Additionally, deliveries were suspended for two days when crowds swarmed aid trucks arriving from the pier, leading to the fatality of a Palestinian man. Nevertheless, the pier managed to successfully transport over 820 metric tons of food aid from the sea to the Gaza beach.
- Capacity and Challenges: Although the pier is crucial, it alone cannot supply the required aid for the starving population in Gaza. Even at full capacity, the pier can only supply enough food for half a million people. To address the needs of the other 1.8 million individuals, additional land crossings must be utilized.
The current situation underscores the critical need to identify alternative pathways for humanitarian aid, ensuring that essential supplies are delivered to those in need. The U.S. is committed to collaborating with the IDF to facilitate the delivery of food and vital supplies into Gaza during the repair of the pier.
Jim Williams, stationed in Washington, D.C., delivers in-depth written articles and video reports on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as a range of other Middle Eastern topics. He has covered every U.S. Presidential election since 1980.
