U.S. Military Initiates Gaza Pier Construction For Vital Aid Delivery Operation

U.S. troops have begun building a maritime pier off the Gaza coast that will start operating in May and aim to expedite the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave.

Israel’s six-month-long military assault against Hamas has ravaged the tiny Gaza Strip, plunging its 2.3 million civilians into a humanitarian crisis.

A senior official associated with the Biden administration, speaking to reporters, said that humanitarian aid coming off the pier would have to pass via Israeli checkpoints on land despite the aid having been examined by Israel earlier in Cyprus before being shipped to Gaza.

Israel wants to take measures to prevent aid from reaching the Hamas fighters and boost their war effort.

President Biden announced the pier in March as officials urged Israel to make it easier for relief supplies to enter Gaza via land avenues.

It is unclear whether the pier would improve humanitarian deliveries, as U.N. officials continue to warn of an imminent risk of famine in northern Gaza.

The prospect of checkpoints raises questions about the possible delays even after the aid reaches shore.

The U.N. has long complained about the obstacles to delivering and distributing aid in Gaza.

Major General Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon’s spokesperson, informed reporters that U.S. military vessels, including USNS Benavidez, have started the construction of the provisional pier’s preliminary stages.

Concerns regarding the risks to U.S. troops getting entangled in the Israel-Hamas war were reportedly underscored on Thursday as the news emerged of a mortar attack close to the area where the pier will touch the ground.

However, no U.S. forces were there at that point, and Biden ordered U.S. forces to avoid stepping foot on the Gaza shore.

The pier will initially handle 90 trucks daily, but when fully operational, the number can increase to 150.

The U.N. stated this week that the average number of trucks entering Gaza daily during April was 200, with a peak on Monday of 316.

The official added that almost 1,000 U.S. troops would support the military effort, including through coordination cells in Israel and Cyprus.

The official added that a third party is going to drive trucks down the pier on the beach.

The northern Gaza Strip is heading toward a famine, the deputy UN food chief noted on Thursday, appealing for a higher volume of aid and for Israel to permit direct access to the Erez crossing from the southern Ashdod port.

According to a statement, the Israeli military would offer security and logistical support for the pier.

An Israeli military brigade comprising thousands of soldiers, besides Israeli Navy vessels and Air Force, would work to safeguard the U.S. troops who have been setting up the pier.

Ryder said that the Pentagon was tracking a mortar attack in Gaza that caused some damage to the marshalling area for the pier.

He added that the U.S. forces hadn’t started moving anything to the area.

However, there were no U.S. forces present on the ground.

Reference: defense.gov

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Source: Maritime Shipping News