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The US military has announced the end of a humanitarian operation in the Gaza Strip, which was repeatedly delayed due to adverse weather conditions and technical problems. The pier, which was used to deliver aid, could not be brought back ashore and will now remain in the Israeli port of Ashdod.
Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, said efforts to connect the floating pier to the Gaza coastline had failed due to “technical and weather issues.” Currently, the pier and support vessels are in the port of Ashdod, where they are protected from strong waves.
Ryder noted that the pier will be decommissioning soon, and further information about that process will be released in the coming days. The Pentagon did not specify whether new attempts will be made to fix the pier on the shore.
The deployment of the pier was initially a temporary measure and depended on calm seas to ensure the delivery of aid. However, despite considerable efforts, the weather conditions proved to be too difficult for the successful implementation of the mission. The floating structure is connected to the shore by a steel dam and can only operate in waves of no more than three feet.
Since the start of the operation on May 17, about 20 million pounds of food have been brought ashore, which is only a small fraction of the amount of aid needed. Palestinians in Gaza face starvation as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas. At the same time, the Israeli authorities are resisting the demands of the United States and the international community to increase the volume of aid supplies via land routes.
Humanitarian groups also face security challenges for their workers due to the high rate of civilian casualties. Until recently, supplies were stockpiled in a collection area along the beach, but much of the aid has been moved elsewhere.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will continue to use all available routes to deliver food and medicine to Palestinians in need. Groups have already begun using the port of Ashdod for additional aid supplies.
The humanitarian mission launched by President Biden in March has become a source of controversy in Washington. Administration officials have defended the effort despite numerous setbacks, while some Democrats have criticized the president’s failure to compel Israeli leaders to prioritize the safety and well-being of civilians.
Republicans have repeatedly called for the pier’s eventual dismantling, citing safety concerns for the roughly 1,000 U.S. service members involved in the mission.
It was planned that the pier would allow the delivery of up to 2 million meals a day, but strong waves repeatedly disrupted the plans. On May 25, four army vessels were washed ashore and the pier was badly damaged. Damages were estimated at 22 million dollars. After restoration work, the pier was installed again, but strong waves again forced it to be removed.
Thus, the mission to help the Palestinians in Gaza ended without achieving all its objectives.
Source: Washington Post.
