Israel has committed to help protect US troops who are traveling to the eastern Mediterranean to build and operate a floating dock and causeway that will be used to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza, as confirmed by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff C.Q. Brown on Thursday.
Concerns have been raised by Republican senators regarding the safety of the approximately 1,000 US personnel involved in the construction of the pier, which will be located off the coast of Gaza and could be a potential target for terror groups like Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad.
Brown emphasized the importance of force protection for the troops, stating that both US forces and Israeli support will be in place to safeguard the personnel in the area. Additionally, other US partners and allies are expected to contribute their capabilities to enhance the protection of the troops.
Brown mentioned that he has received assurances from his Israeli counterpart regarding the security of the floating dock and expressed confidence that it will not create additional obstacles for humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, which has been a challenge through land crossings into the enclave.
A group of 12 senators addressed President Joe Biden with inquiries about the force protection risks associated with the mission and the rules of engagement for US troops in the event of an attack by Hamas or other terrorist groups.
The Pentagon has reiterated that US forces will not set foot on shore in Gaza and that a regional partner or ally will assist in securing the causeway constructed by the US military to the shore.
