The US built a temporary port for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip PHOTO: US Army / Zuma Press / Profimedia
The United States announced on Wednesday that it is permanently ending operations through the temporary port constructed on the coast of the Gaza Strip for delivering humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory under Israeli blockade. The announcement was made by a regional official of the U.S. military command, as reported by DPA and Agerpres on Thursday.
An alternative route using the Israeli port of Ashdod in the north is in the planning stage, but no details have been provided yet. From the beginning, the temporary port was seen as a provisional solution for delivering aid to Gaza, but numerous problems have arisen since it became operational in May. Rough seas have significantly damaged the infrastructure, and distributing aid to the population has proven difficult.
Videos and photographs shared on social media have shown sections of the port being washed away multiple times. Despite these issues, the U.S. Central Command has deemed the project a success, stating that the port greatly facilitated the transport and quicker delivery of aid to the Gaza population.
The Pentagon estimated the construction cost of the temporary port at approximately $300 million. Initial expectations were high, with about 90 aid trucks planned per day, eventually increasing to 150.
