The U.S. military has finished installing a floating pier along the Gaza coast, opening up a new sea route for humanitarian aid delivery to the enclave’s civilians. The pier was anchored to a beach in Gaza without any U.S. troops setting foot on Palestinian soil. Humanitarian aid is expected to start moving ashore from the pier in the coming days and will be received by the United Nations for coordination.
This new aid route comes at a critical time as aid supplies from the southern border with Egypt have been suspended for over a week. The flow of aid through the Rafah border crossing was halted after Israeli forces captured the Gazan side of the crossing. While the pier offers an alternative route for aid delivery, aid agencies emphasize that land deliveries are more frequent and cheaper to operate. Israeli and Egyptian officials have blamed each other for the continued closure of the Rafah crossing.
President Biden ordered the establishment of the temporary dock in Gaza earlier this year to expand aid delivery into the territory. Israeli officials have expressed their support for the plan, which involves international aid being dropped off in Cyprus, screened by Israeli officials, and then loaded onto ships at the port of Larnaca for delivery to Gaza via a 200-mile sea route. Israeli forces are responsible for the security of the shore operations, with two U.S. Navy warships stationed nearby.
The pier project aims to provide humanitarian aid to the enclave’s civilians amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The completion of the pier allows for aid to be delivered through a new sea route while deliveries via land remain suspended. The United Nations will play a key role in receiving aid at the pier and coordinating its distribution to those in need. The U.S. military, in collaboration with international partners, has taken steps to ensure the smooth operation of aid deliveries through the new route.
As the situation in Gaza remains volatile, with continuing violence and disruptions to aid delivery, the completion of the floating pier offers a glimmer of hope for civilians in need. Despite the challenges and complexities involved in setting up the new aid route, the U.S. military and its partners are working diligently to ensure that essential supplies reach those affected by the conflict. The successful installation of the pier marks a significant milestone in the effort to provide much-needed assistance to the people of Gaza during these challenging times.
