Setbacks Continue for US Humanitarian Aid Project in Gaza
Section of $320 Million Floating Pier Detached and Drifted onto Israeli Beach
A portion of the $320 million floating pier, constructed and installed off the coast of Gaza, has detached and drifted onto an Israeli beach. This incident, which occurred on Saturday, is the most recent setback for the US humanitarian aid project. Prior to this, three US troops were injured on the pier, one of them critically.
Reported by Emanuel Fabian
Emanuel Fabian, the military correspondent for The Times of Israel, reported that an American vessel utilized for unloading humanitarian aid from ships into the Gaza Strip via the floating pier detached from a small boat tugging it due to stormy seas. This led to the vessel getting stuck on the coast of Ashdod, according to eyewitnesses.
Rescue Operation Complications
The recovery operation has also faced difficulties. Another ship was sent to extract the stuck vessel but ended up beached as well. Furthermore, a second US Army vessel got stuck in shallow waters during the rescue attempt. American troops were seen in footage standing helplessly on the beach as the now beached section of the pier detached and drifted away.
Official Statement from US Central Command
An official statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that four U.S. Army vessels supporting the maritime humanitarian aid mission in Gaza were affected by heavy sea states. The vessels broke free from their moorings, and two of them are now anchored on the beach near the pier. The other two vessels are beached on the coast of Israel near Ashkelon. Efforts to recover the vessels are underway with assistance from the Israeli Navy.
Controversy Surrounding the Pier
The pier operation was already off to a rocky start last week and was paused for two days after desperate Palestinians mobbed and ransacked the first trucks transporting aid unloaded from the pier. The pier has been a source of controversy as several land routes for aid into Gaza are possible but have been blocked by Israel’s military. The US government has spent $320 million to build a pier to bypass its own beneficiary’s land-route blockade. However, operating it has proven challenging, especially due to inclement conditions in the eastern Mediterranean.
Future of the Pier
Daniel Dieckhaus, the USAID Levant response management team director, stated that the pier alone is not enough to meet the staggering needs in Gaza, but it is an important addition. It is meant to augment, not replace or substitute for land crossings into Gaza. However, with a section of the pier stuck on an Israeli beach and the project facing constant setbacks, the entire initiative is becoming somewhat of an embarrassment.
What are your thoughts?
This situation raises questions about the effectiveness and efficiency of such large-scale humanitarian projects. What do you think about these setbacks? Are there better ways to provide aid to Gaza? Share your thoughts and this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
