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Re-anchoring date for Gaza pier not set: Pentagon

July 11, 2024 at 7:19 pm

A view of the Trident Pier, constructed for humanitarian aid delivery into the Gaza Strip, on the Gaza coast, May 16, 2024 [U.S. Central Command Public Affairs – Anadolu Agency]

The temporary pier built by the US military to bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip has not been re-anchored, the Pentagon said Thursday, Anadolu Agency reports.

“US Central Command (CENTCOM) personnel supporting the mission to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians attempted yesterday to re-anchor the temporary pier to the beach in Gaza to resume humanitarian operations.”

“However, due to technical and weather-related issues, CENTCOM personnel were unable to re-anchor the pier to the shore,” spokesman, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, said in a statement.

The pier, support vessels and equipment are returning to the Port of Ashdod in Israel where they will remain “until further notice”, Ryder said.

“A re-anchoring date has not been set,” he said, reiterating that at no time did US personnel enter Gaza.

Since the pier became operational on 17 May, more than 8,100 metric tons, or approximately 20 million pounds, of humanitarian aid has been delivered from the pier to the marshalling area where it can be collected by humanitarian organisations for onward delivery and distribution, Ryder said.

Stressing the pier is a “temporary solution” to enable the additional flow of aid into Gaza, he said it will soon cease operations.

The $230 million pier, meant to boost deliveries of desperately needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza, has paused operations several times.

US President, Joe Biden, ordered the establishment of the sea route to deliver food and aid to Palestinians on 8 March amid Israeli restrictions and months of conflict in the enclave.

READ: FACTBOX – How much has US-built Gaza aid pier helped get aid into Gaza?