The U.S. military says work on a floating pier in Gaza remains "underway" as a means of allowing humanitarian assistance to enter the territory embroiled in violence.
Construction of the port, located in the Mediterranean Sea off Gaza's coast, is anticipated to be completed in early May and, once finished, will facilitate the delivery of an estimated 90 truckloads of international aid into the region and scale to up to 150 truckloads once fully operational, according to the Department of Defense (DOD).
The war between Israel and Hamas has affected not just the Middle East but the entire world since the Palestinian militant group first attacked and killed 1,200 people and took over 200 individuals as hostages. More than 34,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the war began, The Associated Press reported, citing local health officials.
The construction cost is approximately $320 million, a U.S. defense official reportedly told Reuters.
"The pier will support @USAID and humanitarian partners to receive and deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. @USTRANSCOM and @USEUCOM support the movement of #humanitarianaid," U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote Monday on X, formerly Twitter.
Newsweek reached out to CENTCOM, the DOD and USAID via email for comment.
The completion of this project comes almost two months after President Joe Biden pledged the "emergency" military mission during his State of the Union address. Rather than put U.S. boots on the ground, the president said it would allow for additional humanitarian aid—with the caveat that Israel "must also do its part."
"I'm directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters," Biden said on March 7.
"Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren't caught in the crossfire," he added.
The DOD says that Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) are being deployed by soldiers from the Army's 7th Transportation Brigade at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and sailors from Naval Beach Group 1 at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California.
JLOTS are organized and equipped by U.S. Army and Navy personnel to conduct ship-to-shore operations where port facilities are inadequate or unavailable. They are helpful for offloading equipment and delivering cargo to more restricted areas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has more recently been pressured by the Biden administration to be open to a ceasefire due to the rising numbers of Palestinian civilian casualties, is now reportedly preparing for a broader military operation in Rafah in the Gaza Strip. A ceasefire with Hamas without key conditions remains off the table, he added.
Netanyahu and his governing partners say Rafah is Hamas' last major stronghold, but it is also where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people are sheltering and the international community has warned against any offensive that risks civilians.
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Nick Mordowanec is a Newsweek reporter based in Michigan. His focus is reporting on Ukraine and Russia, along with social ... Read more
