WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. military has successfully completed the installation of a floating pier off the Gaza Strip, a crucial step towards delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged region. This development comes after seven months of intense fighting in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
The final construction phase was completed overnight, allowing aid to soon flow into Gaza. This initiative follows an order from U.S. President Joe Biden over two months ago, aimed at addressing the dire needs of Palestinians facing starvation due to disrupted food and supply chains. Recently, Israel seized the key Rafah border crossing, intensifying the urgency for alternative aid routes.
Despite logistical and security challenges, the new maritime route is expected to significantly enhance aid delivery to Gaza. However, aid agencies emphasize that this method is not a replacement for more cost-effective land-based deliveries, which they argue are more sustainable in the long term. Aid shipments will be offloaded at a port facility constructed by the Israelis near Gaza City, from where they will be distributed by various aid groups.
The conflict has caused massive displacement, with U.N. officials reporting that 600,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Gaza, primarily from the Rafah area. Additionally, 100,000 civilians have fled from northern Gaza as Israeli military operations resume.
Pentagon officials have assured that the new aid distribution site is currently secure, though they acknowledge the potential for disruptions due to ongoing hostilities. The site has already faced mortar attacks during its construction, and Hamas has issued threats against any foreign forces in Gaza.
Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander at U.S. Central Command, emphasized the importance of security, stating, “The protection of U.S. forces participating is a top priority. We are confident in the ability of this security arrangement to protect those involved.”
The floating pier was anchored at 7:40 a.m. local time on Thursday, with the U.S. Central Command highlighting that no American forces entered Gaza during the operation. Aid trucks are expected to start moving ashore in the coming days, coordinated by the United Nations.
Israeli forces will handle security on the ground, supported by two U.S. Navy warships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the USS Arleigh Burke and the USS Paul Ignatius. These destroyers are equipped to protect American and allied personnel.
Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesman, confirmed the completion of the pier, adding, “We have been working for months on full cooperation with the U.S. military on this project, facilitating it, supporting it in any way possible.”
Despite this progress, aid agencies warn that the current measures are insufficient to prevent a humanitarian crisis. Scott Paul from Oxfam criticized the reliance on the sea route, stating, “It is a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist,” advocating for the opening of land corridors to fully meet the aid demands.
The first aid shipment, carrying 475 pallets of food, has already departed from Cyprus and will be transferred to Gaza via the newly established sea route. This operation, costing an estimated $320 million, is expected to gradually scale up, starting with 90 truckloads of aid per day.
As humanitarian efforts ramp up, the international community watches closely, hoping that this new initiative will bring much-needed relief to the people of Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
