Temporary Gaza Aid Pier Dismantled Again Due to Rough Seas, U.S. Sanctions Israeli Group

Less than a week after the reopening of the temporary offshore pier built to bring crucial humanitarian aid into war-torn Gaza, it is being dismantled once more due to adverse sea conditions. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) revealed the decision to remove the U.S.-constructed pier from Gaza's coast and transport it back to Ashdod, Israel, to prevent potential damage caused by rough seas.

CENTCOM stated that the pier will be promptly re-anchored when the water conditions become favorable. However, no specific timeline for the re-installation was provided. The agency underscored the temporary nature of this relocation, emphasizing its necessity to ensure the sustained delivery of aid in the future. The pier, with an estimated construction cost of $320 million, was preassembled at the port of Ashdod and initially set up on May 17 off the coast of Gaza. Unfortunately, it was only operational for about a week before heavy seas led to its disruption.

History of Aid

Since its initial installation, approximately 7.7 million pounds of aid have been transported to Gaza via this pier, according to CENTCOM. It was projected to deliver around 90 trucks of aid per day, with the capacity increasing to 150 trucks per day, as stated by Defense Department officials in April. This effort was part of the maritime aid corridor announced by President Biden during his State of the Union address in March. Notably, the transfer of aid does not involve the deployment of U.S. troops in Gaza, with approximately 1,000 U.S. service members dedicated to the maritime corridor operation just off the coast.

Sanctions Implemented

In a separate development, the State Department disclosed its sanctioning of an Israeli extremist group known as Tsav 9 for obstructing aid convoys in the occupied West Bank, which were intended to facilitate aid deliveries to Gaza.