The US military's temporary pier has been reanchored to the Gaza coast, according to two US officials. This comes after the pier was dismantled for a second time due to high seas and weather conditions. The pier had to be reattached to the beach once before, after being damaged in heavy seas, and now again in anticipation of severe weather.
Conversation around a maritime corridor to bring aid into Gaza began in late October following recent events in the region. The White House explored options, including the feasibility of the temporary pier, which was initially deemed too risky due to weather conditions and ongoing operations.
In January and February, as the need for humanitarian aid in Gaza grew more urgent, the idea of the temporary pier was revisited. President Joe Biden officially announced the pier in March and directed the military to build it off the coast of Gaza.
Construction began in April, and operations commenced on May 17. However, just a week later, operations were halted due to weather conditions, and the pier broke apart in high seas. US Army vessels supporting the pier were beached, with one taking over two weeks to be recovered.
After repairs, the pier was reattached to the beach on June 7. A week later, it was temporarily dismantled and moved back to Israel to avoid further damage from anticipated heavy seas. Since its initial anchoring, the pier has delivered over 3,500 metric tons of aid to Gaza, with an additional 2,500 metric tons delivered after being reanchored on June 7.
Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh emphasized the commitment to working with the international community to expedite aid delivery to Gaza. The decision to relocate the pier temporarily was made to ensure its ability to continue aiding in the future.
