The U.S. military has established a temporary pier on Gaza’s coast to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave, where access to supplies through land borders has been severely limited due to Israel’s incursion into Rafah. The aid will be unloaded onto trucks that will begin moving ashore in the coming days, with the United Nations overseeing its distribution in Gaza. Israel has traditionally objected to the idea of a seaport for Gaza, citing security concerns, but amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region, the U.S. military announced plans to construct a temporary pier to enable aid shipments via the Mediterranean Sea.
A U.S. ship carrying humanitarian aid, the Sagamore, departed from Cyprus and embarked towards Gaza last week, with the aid being transferred to a smaller vessel awaiting the installation of the pier. The U.S. Central Command stated that no U.S. troops would be entering Gaza, emphasizing that aid delivery through the pier would be conducted by humanitarian organizations. General Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined plans to load three to five trucks from the pier within the next two days, as a test run for the aid delivery process. The Pentagon aims to eventually facilitate the entry of around 90 to 150 trucks a day through the pier operation.
Israeli military spokesman, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, expressed support for the temporary pier project, highlighting the collaboration between the Israeli Navy and the 99th Division to assist in the aid delivery effort by sea and land. Aid groups have raised concerns about the limitations in delivering humanitarian assistance to Gaza due to the destruction caused by Israeli attacks, stringent inspections, and restrictions at crossing points. Israel has maintained that these measures are necessary to prevent weapons and supplies from reaching Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza. The World Food Program reported that access to its warehouse in Rafah had been cut off due to ongoing fighting, jeopardizing the availability of food and fuel for Gaza’s population.
The U.S. Agency for International Development stated that the maritime aid corridor is intended to supplement, not replace, deliveries through land crossings. The Pentagon estimates that the pier could potentially support the delivery of up to two million meals per day, underscoring the significance of the aid operation for addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In March, World Central Kitchen constructed a makeshift jetty to transport aid by sea to Gaza for the first time in nearly two decades, but the initiative was disrupted in April following an Israeli air strike that resulted in the deaths of seven workers. Efforts to provide assistance to Gaza have faced numerous challenges and setbacks, highlighting the urgency of the aid being delivered through the newly established pier.
Deadly conflict and continued violence in Gaza have escalated the humanitarian crisis, exacerbating shortages of essential supplies and threatening the region with famine. The U.S. military’s intervention in establishing the temporary pier aims to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, with the hope of significantly increasing the flow of aid through this maritime corridor. By working closely with humanitarian organizations and coordinating efforts with Israeli authorities, the U.S. aims to build a sustainable mechanism for delivering crucial aid to Gaza, while navigating security concerns and logistical challenges. The successful implementation of the pier operation could mark a turning point in addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, offering a lifeline to those in need of immediate assistance.
