US Military’s Temporary Pier in Gaza Sustains Damage in Heavy Seas

The US Military’s Temporary Pier in Gaza Sustains Damage in Heavy Seas

In a significant setback to the American-led effort to create a maritime corridor for humanitarian supplies into Gaza, the temporary pier constructed by the US military has broken apart and sustained damage in heavy seas. The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday that the pier, which was used to transport aid into the war-torn enclave, will need to be removed from its location on the Gaza coast for repairs.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh stated that sections of the pier need rebuilding and repairing, and the repairs will be carried out at the Israeli port of Ashdod by US Central Command. The damage to the pier occurred three days after heavy seas forced two small US Army vessels to beach in Israel while two other vessels broke free of their moorings and were anchored near the pier.

The temporary pier, known as the Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS), had just begun operating on May 17 before heavy seas forced a halt to maritime shipments on May 24. The system requires very good sea conditions to operate safely and can only handle 3-foot waves and winds less than 15 miles per hour.

Despite the setback, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of US Central Command, reported that over 1,000 metric tons of aid had been delivered through the pier to Gaza before operations had to be halted. However, with the temporary pier now inoperable, thousands of tons of aid waiting in Cyprus are paused.

The US has emphasized that the temporary pier was meant to augment humanitarian shipments going through land crossings between Israel and Gaza. The delay in repairs and resuming operations at the pier will further hinder efforts to provide much-needed aid to the Palestinian population in Gaza.

This story will be updated with additional details as they become available.