US soldier deployed on a Gaza pier mission is in critical condition after being injured in a non-combat incident on Thursday, Military Daily News said.
The soldier was at work on a beachhead two miles off the Gaza coast where trucks filled with aid packages are driven from cargo ships onto army watercraft, defence ministry officials told USNI News. The MV Benevid, a lurching cargo ship, was attached to the platform at the time of the injury, the official said.
At noon Friday, however, the identity of the critically wounded soldier had not been released, as names are usually withheld until the family is notified.
Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) told reporters Thursday that three soldiers were recently injured during the relief operation. He refused to give details, citing confidentiality concerns, and would not even say which unit the injured soldiers were from. CENTCOM later issued a brief statement saying that the serious injury actually occurred at Benavides and not at the beachhead.
Cooper highlighted the absence of US personnel on the ground during the overland distribution in the Gaza Strip, saying that aid workers ‘are solely responsible for these stages of the process.
Earlier this month, the army completed construction of a floating pier called the Joint Logistics Operation Over the Shore (JLOTS). Despite, still the delivery of humanitarian aid is experiencing difficulties.
The plan has been criticised by various groups. Some have argued that the effort is not enough to prevent the massive famine now facing the area. Others have argued that the effort is needlessly putting US troops at risk or have expressed concern about the condition of JLOTS equipment.
