The US military is currently embarking on an ambitious project to construct a maritime pier off the coast of Gaza City, a venture that could prove vital in alleviating the severe humanitarian crisis facing the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million inhabitants. The Pentagon has confirmed that the port, which is anticipated to commence operations by early May, aims to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid directly into Gaza.
This undertaking, announced by US President Joe Biden in March, aims to ease the severe restrictions on overland aid routes. However, the success of this initiative remains uncertain due to the numerous security and logistical hurdles that have been identified. Despite international officials’ warnings of a risk of famine in northern Gaza, the pier’s construction is seen as a critical step in boosting aid to the region.
The envisaged pier will begin by handling 90 trucks of aid per day, with the potential to increase to 150 trucks once fully operational. These numbers are significant when compared to the current daily average of 200 trucks entering Gaza, with a peak recently recorded at 316.
Security concerns have been sharply highlighted by a mortar attack during a UN visit to the construction site, although no US forces were present at the time. The IDF has responded promptly to these concerns by stating that it will provide security and logistics support for the project, known as the Joint Logistics Over The Shore (JLOTS) initiative. In this arrangement, Israel will maintain control over the distribution zones and ensure that Palestinian drivers contracted by the UN can safely transport the aid to distribution points.
Despite the sea route’s strategic planning—where aid pallets will be inspected and loaded onto commercial ships in Cyprus, then transferred to trucks and delivered via a temporary floating pier—the project faces challenges. A senior Biden administration official noted that aid shipments from the pier must still navigate Israeli land checkpoints, despite prior inspections in Cyprus. This procedural redundancy raises questions about potential delays in aid delivery.
Sonali Korde, an official with the US Agency for International Development, informed the Associated Press (AP) that crucial agreements regarding security and aid delivery management are still under negotiation. This includes determining the protocols for Israeli forces’ operations in Gaza to safeguard the safety of aid workers.
The IDF said in a statement Thursday that it had approved “collaborative efforts” for the Joint Logistics Over The Shore project, known as JLOTS.“The IDF will operate to provide security and logistics support for the JLOTS initiative, which includes the establishment of a temporary floating pier to deliver humanitarian aid from the sea into Gaza,” the military said.
Despite these concerns, the port is a glimmer of hope for Gaza, where past efforts to introduce aid have been hindered by challenges at land crossings and the tragedy of aid workers’ deaths, like the seven World Central Kitchen volunteers killed in an Israeli airstrike. Moreover, airdrops, while a last resort, have proven to be inefficient and dangerous.
Relevant articles:
– US military begins constructing Gaza port to assist humanitarian aid flow, aims to be operational by early May, allisrael.com, 04/27/2024
– US troops begin constructing Gaza pier, aiming to have it operational by early May, The Times of Israel, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 05:30:18 GMT
– Satellite Photos Show New Port Construction in Gaza Strip for US-Led Aid Operation, Military.com, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:11:33 GMT
– US troops begin construction of Gaza aid pier as questions remain over distribution, The Guardian, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:43:00 GMT
– A US-led effort to bring aid to Gaza by sea is moving forward. But big concerns remain, ABC News, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 22:46:57 GMT