The pier constructed by the U.S. military to deliver aid to Gaza has been dismantled due to adverse weather conditions, and U.S. officials stated Friday that it might not be reinstalled unless aid distribution to the population resumes.
While the military has successfully delivered crucial food supplies through the pier, most of it remains in the adjacent storage yard, which is nearing capacity. Aid agencies have struggled to transport the food to deeper parts of Gaza, where it is most needed, due to attacks on humanitarian convoys.
The U.N., which has the most extensive network for distributing aid to starving Palestinians, has not been distributing food and other emergency supplies arriving via the pier since June 9. This suspension followed an Israeli military operation near the pier that involved rescuing hostages and resulted in over 270 Palestinian deaths, prompting a U.N. security review due to concerns over the safety and neutrality of aid workers.
U.N. World Food Program spokesman Steve Taravella confirmed Friday that the U.N.’s involvement in the pier project remains on hold pending the resolution of security issues.
President Joe Biden’s $230 million project, always intended as a temporary measure and not a comprehensive solution to delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, has encountered multiple challenges since aid first arrived on May 17. It has been criticized by relief organizations and congressional Republicans as an expensive diversion.
The pier has facilitated the delivery of more than 19.4 million pounds (8.6 million kilograms) of food to Gaza but has faced interruptions not only from aid pauses but also from unpredictable weather. Rough seas damaged the pier shortly after it began operations, necessitating its temporary removal for repairs and subsequent reinstallation. Heavy seas on Friday forced its removal once again, and it was taken to the Israeli port at Ashdod.
Several U.S. officials, speaking anonymously to discuss military operations, indicated that the pier might be reinstalled once the weather improves in the coming days, but a final decision has not yet been made.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh acknowledged uncertainty about when the pier will be reinstalled. “When the commander decides that it is the right time to reinstall that pier, we’ll keep you updated on that,” she said.
Singh also emphasized the need for more aid to be brought into Cyprus and then transported to the pier. She noted that the secure onshore area is “pretty close to full,” but affirmed the commitment to get aid into Gaza by all possible means. The U.S. is in discussions with aid agencies about food distribution logistics.
However, she added, “Of course, if there’s not enough room in the marshalling yard, then it doesn’t make sense to put our men or women out there when there’s nothing to do.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Nation building doesn’t work when the culture is self-destructive. You can’t fix Azzah so easily.