Biden Builds Pier Adjoining Gaza Strip
The U.S. military completed the installation of a floating pier for the Gaza Strip, enabling the additional delivery of critical humanitarian aid to the enclave besieged by intense fighting in the Israel-Hamas war.
The final construction phase was carried out overnight, following U.S. President Joe Biden’s directive more than two months ago. The effort comes after Israel seized the key Rafah border crossing in its campaign against the southern city on the Egyptian border.
While the maritime route aims to increase aid delivery, it faces numerous logistical, weather, and security challenges and is not seen as a sustainable alternative to cheaper land-based deliveries. The aid will be brought to a port facility built by Israel southwest of Gaza City and distributed by various aid organizations.
Pentagon officials assured that the fighting in Gaza does not currently threaten the new shoreline aid distribution area. Nonetheless, they will closely monitor security conditions, which could lead to a temporary shutdown of the maritime route if necessary. During the pier’s construction, the site was targeted by Hamas mortar fire, and Hamas has threatened to target any foreign forces they view as “occupiers” of the Gaza Strip.
Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander at the U.S. military’s Central Command, emphasized the priority of protecting U.S. forces. He noted that the U.S. and Israel have developed an integrated security plan to safeguard all personnel involved.
U.S. troops have now anchored the pier without entering Gaza, according to Central Command. “Trucks carrying humanitarian assistance are expected to begin moving ashore in the coming days,” the command stated. The U.N. will oversee the receipt and distribution of aid.
The World Food Program will handle the aid on behalf of the U.N. Israeli forces will manage security on the shore, with two U.S. Navy destroyers, the USS Arleigh Burke and the USS Paul Ignatius, stationed nearby to protect American troops and allies.
Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani confirmed the pier’s attachment and the preparation of surrounding infrastructure to facilitate truck movements. “We have been working for months on full cooperation with (the U.S. military) on this project, facilitating it, supporting it in any way possible,” Shoshani said.
Aid agencies report dwindling supplies in southern Gaza, warning that fuel shortages could soon halt critical hospital operations and truck deliveries.
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