US troops have begun construction of a maritime pier off the coast of Gaza that should speed the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave when it becomes operational in May, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
President Joe Biden announced the construction of the pier in March, when representatives of humanitarian organisations pleaded with Israeli authorities to ease the access of humanitarian supplies to Gaza by land. Whether humanitarian aid will eventually be able to be increased is not known yet, as international organisations warn of the risk of famine in northern Gaza.
A senior Biden administration official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said humanitarian aid coming from the pier would have to pass through Israeli crossings on land. This is despite the fact that aid has already been screened by Israel in Cyprus before being sent to Gaza. Israel fears any aid reaching Hamas that would aid their war effort.
No American soldiers will be on the ground in Gaza, but they will be conducting activities on the pier. Private contractors working for US forces will handle the unloading of aid as it arrives at secure storage facilities, and distribution will be organised by World Food Organisation staff. The IDF, in addition to providing security around the pier, will also gather intelligence and take steps to ensure that US forces are not endangered or the pier itself damaged.
Initially, work on the pier, which is an expanded humanitarian and logistical operation, will only take place during daylight hours while its capacity is expanded. It will not be used to transport people to or from Gaza.
A UN spokesman said the port would likely have three zones: one controlled by the Israelis where aid would be dropped off the pier, another where aid would be transferred, and a third where Palestinian drivers hired by the UN would wait to pick up aid before delivering it to distribution points.
In a statement, the Israeli military said it would provide security and logistical support for the pier. An IDF brigade, which includes thousands of soldiers, as well as Israeli Navy and Air Force ships, will protect the US soldiers who are installing the pier.
According to the military, the new pier will expand and improve the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Strip. “The IDF’s participation underscores the joint effort with international organisations to deliver humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Gaza,” the IDF said in a statement.
