The US military has temporarily halted the construction of a humanitarian pier and causeway off the coast of Gaza due to forecasted high winds and high sea swells, as reported by US Central Command (CENTCOM). The pause was deemed necessary to ensure the safety of soldiers working on the partially constructed pier, which began construction last week.
According to CENTCOM, the construction activities have now been relocated to the Port of Ashdod, one of Israel's main cargo ports north of Gaza. The partially built pier and military vessels involved in the construction have been moved to Ashdod for assembly to continue until weather conditions improve.
The pier system, known as Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS), is expected to provide critical aid to the population in Gaza, with the capacity to deliver up to 150 trucks per day once fully operational. However, challenging sea state conditions off the coast of Gaza have delayed the construction progress.
Defense officials had initially aimed to complete the JLOTS system by Friday, but rough seas have hindered the work, particularly for military divers tasked with securing and stabilizing the pier structure. The safety of personnel involved in the construction remains a top priority, with operations dependent on favorable weather conditions.
Once operational, the US Army and Navy will continuously monitor sea state conditions to determine if further pauses in operations are necessary to safeguard personnel. This ongoing assessment may impact the pace of aid delivery operations in the region.
