In a groundbreaking effort to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the United States military has taken on the challenge of constructing a temporary pier off the Gaza coast. The pier is envisioned as a vital conduit for delivering up to 150 trucks of aid daily to the enclave’s population, which is grappling with the dire prospect of famine.
The Pentagon’s spokesperson Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder confirmed the commencement of the pier’s construction, stating that “US military vessels, to include the USNS Benavidez, have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea.” The ambitious project aims to be operational by early May, providing much-needed sustenance and medical supplies to the 2.3 million residents of Gaza.
However, the initiative is rife with complexities. President Joe Biden has specified that US forces will not set foot on the Gaza shore, requiring a third-party country to drive the aid-laden trucks from the pier to the beach. The site’s security is a paramount concern, particularly after a mortar attack near the construction area, underscoring the volatile situation that international aid efforts face in the region.
The Israeli military has pledged to provide security and logistics support for the pier, allocating a brigade and additional resources to safeguard the operation. A statement from the Israeli Defense Forces emphasized their commitment to facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilian population, amidst ongoing strife.
The strategy for aid delivery has been carefully delineated, involving multiple zones of control and transfer points, with the United Nations’ World Food Program taking the lead in the distribution effort. However, the administration official underscored the criticality of the situation, noting that “the entire population of Gaza is facing acute food insecurity,” and stressing the urgency of this international intervention.
The construction is progressing swiftly, with satellite images revealing the rapid development of the new port. The temporary port is not merely a short-term solution but a part of a broader vision to establish a commercial operation that could serve other countries and organizations in the long run.
The US military’s role extends to coordinating the complex logistics of this high-stakes humanitarian mission, with coordination cells established both in Cyprus and Israel to ensure the smooth flow of aid. Yet, key agreements regarding the security of aid workers and the handling of aid deliveries are still in negotiation, reflecting the inherent difficulties of operating in such a fraught environment.
The port sits just southwest of Gaza City, a bit north of a road bisecting Gaza that the Israeli military built during the fighting. The area once was the territory’s most-populous region, before the Israeli ground offensive rolled through, pushing over 1 million people south toward the town of Rafah on the Egyptian border.
Relevant articles:
– US military begins construction at sea on pier to help funnel more aid to Gaza, Stripes, 04/26/2024
– US troops begin construction of Gaza aid pier as questions remain over distribution, The Guardian, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:43:00 GMT
– US military starts building pier off of Gaza to deliver aid, ABC News, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 23:03:15 GMT
– US military begins construction of pier off Gaza for complex and dangerous aid delivery mission, CNN, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:33:00 GMT
– 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