The U.S. military pier constructed to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza will be reinstalled temporarily on Wednesday, according to several U.S. officials. The plan is to utilize the pier for a few days to clear aid that has accumulated in Cyprus and on the floating dock offshore, before permanently removing it. The project has faced challenges such as adverse weather conditions, security threats, and logistical difficulties in distributing food to the needy in Gaza.
Despite successfully transporting over 19.4 million pounds of food to Gaza through the pier, ongoing heavy seas and security concerns have impeded the aid flow. The decision to reinstall the pier comes amidst Israeli military advancements into Gaza City, potentially impacting cease-fire negotiations and hostage release talks between Israel and Hamas.
The United Nations had halted aid deliveries through the pier on June 9, following Israeli military activities in the vicinity after a hostage rescue operation. The perception that the pier was involved in the raid raised concerns among U.N. officials about jeopardizing their aid operations in Gaza.
The Pentagon clarified that the pier was always intended as a temporary measure to encourage Israel to improve land routes for aid transportation, which are more efficient than sea routes. The pier has suffered damage from inclement weather multiple times since its inception, with repairs and removals carried out periodically.
As the weather conditions are predicted to deteriorate further, the U.S. military aims to clear the aid stockpiled in Gaza and then dismantle the pier before departing. The World Food Program has taken steps to prevent spoilage of aid by hiring contractors to relocate supplies from the beach to secure areas.
While the pier's reinstallation offers a brief window for aid delivery, the long-term viability of the project remains uncertain given the persistent challenges it has faced. The U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that final arrangements are still being finalized as the operation progresses.
