In breaking news, the US military’s temporary pier has been reanchored to the Gaza coast, according to two US officials who spoke with CNN. This comes after the pier was dismantled for a second time due to high seas and weather conditions.
This marks the second instance of the pier needing to be reattached to the beach. The first time was due to damage caused by heavy seas, and now it has had to be resecured in anticipation of severe weather that could potentially cause more damage.
The conversation surrounding a maritime corridor to bring aid into Gaza began in late October following Hamas’ invasion of Israel and the subsequent offensive by Israeli forces in Gaza. The White House began exploring options, including the feasibility of the temporary pier, which was initially deemed too risky due to weather conditions and ongoing IDF operations.
The idea was revisited in January and February as the need for humanitarian aid in Gaza grew more urgent. President Joe Biden officially announced the pier in March, directing the military to build it off the coast of Gaza. US Army watercraft departed shortly after.
Construction of the pier and causeway began in April, with operations commencing on May 17. However, just one week later, operations were halted due to weather conditions, and the pier broke apart two days after that.
Four US Army vessels supporting the pier were beached as a result of unprecedented weather conditions for that time of year. Recovery efforts took more than two weeks for one vessel on the Gaza beach.
The pier was towed back to Ashdod for repairs and reattached to the beach on June 7. A week later, on June 14, the US announced it would temporarily dismantle the pier once again and move it back to Israel to prevent further damage from anticipated heavy seas.
In a statement from US Central Command, it was emphasized that the decision to relocate the pier was necessary to ensure the continued delivery of aid in the future.
Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh reported that since the pier was initially anchored on May 17, over 3,500 metric tons of aid have been delivered to Gaza. Roughly 2,500 metric tons were delivered after the pier was reanchored on June 7.
“We remain committed to working with the international community to get aid into Gaza as quickly as possible,” Singh stated.
