US says it is halting Gaza 'aid shipments' due to pier damage
4 Min Read
The announcement from the US military is expected to be issued later on Tuesday.
-
Chunks of the damaged pier are seen floating along the Gaza coastline (X, @samosaur)
The military pier off the shore of Gaza is being removed for repairs and will be put back once they are completed, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday.
The reconstruction of the pier at the port of Ashdod is expected to take more than a week, according to Pentagon spokesman Sabrina Singh.
NBC News had reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed officials, that the US has suspended seaborne 'aid deliveries' after bad weather damaged the so-called 'temporary pier' it had set up along the Gaza coastline.
The broadcaster said that the announcement from the US military is expected later on Tuesday, according to a report citing sources including a UN official, a US official, and an Israeli official.
Since its plan was revealed, The real purpose of the pier has been widely speculated, as it can represent the basis for a future permanent US military base on the shores of Palestine under the pretext of delivering aid.
The pier could also serve as a choke point for aid in the post-war situation, as such deliveries could be linked to political pressure on the people of Gaza and the resistance to submit to future US dictates.
With the Israeli control of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, The Israelis now control all entry points to Gaza, which puts all aid entry points in the hands of the US and the Israelis.
Read more: 'Israel' set to occupy Rafah crossing, control aid of 1.4mln people
On another note, The US's failure to establish a moderately sized peer has sparked a wave of mockery on social media regarding the readiness of the US Navy amid rising tensions with China and the possibility of a naval conflict in East Asia.
🇺🇸🇮🇱🇵🇸 The American pier in Gaza did collapse!
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) May 27, 2024
LMAO ... the Israelis are making fun of it! pic.twitter.com/gOwItFCaB3
On May 25, footage circulated across social media platforms, showing the pier floating away as waves carried it toward Ashdod, according to Israeli media.
Israeli Channel 12 specifically reported that strong waves swept away a section of the American floating pier off the coast of the Gaza Strip, heading towards the shores of Ashdod.
The Israeli navy reportedly retrieved and reattached the section, as per the report.
The US floating pier in the Mediterranean Sea has faced significant challenges since its creation on May 15, questioning its efficiency in alleviating the humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
#شاهد | انهيار جزء من الرصيف الأميركي البحري في #غزة والأمواج تجرفه إلى أسدود المحتلة #فلسطين_المحتلة #الميادين pic.twitter.com/F6qFhvGRMh
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) May 25, 2024
It is worth noting that the Pentagon allocated $320 million and deployed 1,000 soldiers and sailors to establish the pier. The mission reportedly involved fourteen ships from the US and other countries. At the same time, the US sent billions of dollars of weapons to "Israel" amid its genocide in Gaza.
Weather conditions present a significant challenge, with rough seas in the Mediterranean posing a threat to the pier's integrity and safety. Storms delayed the installation process, and further interruptions are possible. While the summer months are anticipated to be relatively calm, operations may need to cease by September, necessitating the dismantling of the pier.
Read more: UN stops all food distribution in Rafah, warns of US pier failure
On a related note, Gaza's Ministry of Health recently reported that the death toll in the Gaza genocide has risen to 36,096, with another 81,136 reported as injured.
The Ministry further reported that the Israeli occupation committed 5 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, killing 46 and injuring 110 in the past 24 hours.
Moments ago, a massacre in the Western part of Rafah camp claimed the lives of 21 people.
