US military completes Gaza floating pier mission, shifts aid delivery strategy

The US military has officially concluded its mission to install and operate a temporary, floating pier off the coast of Gaza.

The pier, which was announced by President Joe Biden in March as part of a humanitarian aid effort, aimed to provide much-needed assistance to Palestinians in the region. However, the operation faced numerous challenges, including adverse weather conditions and distribution issues within Gaza, limiting its effectiveness.

The massive undertaking involved approximately 1,000 US forces and was considered the largest aid delivery effort ever conducted by the US military in the Middle East. Aid began flowing through the pier to Gaza in May, with the objective of helping to alleviate the risk of famine following months of conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Despite the efforts made, the pier was operational for only about 20 days due to the aforementioned challenges. As a result, the US military has decided to shift its strategy for distributing aid to Gaza. Instead of using the floating pier, future aid shipments will now be directed to the established port of Ashdod in Israel. At least 5 million pounds of aid, currently located in Cyprus or on ships, will be redirected to Ashdod in the coming days.

Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the deputy commander of US Central Command, stated that the temporary pier achieved its intended effect of delivering a substantial volume of aid to Gaza efficiently. Approximately 20 million pounds of aid were successfully delivered to the region.

Cooper further emphasized that the decision to shift aid operations to Ashdod was based on the assessment that it would facilitate the continued delivery of aid to the civilians in Gaza.

The floating pier initiative became a subject of controversy in Congress, with Republicans criticizing it as a political move by President Biden. They accused him of using the operation to appease fellow Democrats who had been calling for increased support to Palestinians after months of strong backing for Israel during the conflict with Hamas.

While the pier played a crucial role in bringing much-needed aid to Gaza’s shore, it faced challenges such as adverse weather conditions, which led to its removal multiple times. The pier has not been in use since June, when it was relocated to Ashdod due to rough seas. It remains unclear whether the US military has begun dismantling the pier at Ashdod in preparation for its return to the United States.

The United Nations World Food Programme temporarily suspended operations at the pier in June due to security concerns, resulting in a backlog of aid on the Gaza shore.

The UN has consistently emphasized that land routes should be the primary focus for aid operations in the region, as maritime deliveries alone cannot fully address the needs of the population. It is crucial to ensure the continuous flow of humanitarian and commercial supplies through land access points to avoid the risk of famine and support the people of Gaza.