US Building Maritime Aid Pier for Gaza
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – U.S. troops have begun building a maritime pier off the coast of the Gaza Strip to speed up humanitarian aid into the wartorn territory, White House and U.S. military officials say.
The temporary floating dock in the Mediterranean Sea comes despite fears over how food and other goods will be delivered safely, officials said.
Military leaders say the seafaring aid project, first announced by U.S. President Joe Biden in March, is backed by crucial American military vessels, Worthy News learned.
“I can confirm that U.S. military vessels, to include the USNS Benavidez, have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea,” said Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder.
About 1,000 US troops will support the military effort, including in coordination cells in Cyprus and Israel, according to officials familiar with the situation.
“Construction of the pier is expected to be completed in early May. Once completed, it will initially facilitate the delivery of an estimated 90 truckloads of international aid into Gaza,” said the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) in remarks obtained by Worthy News.
The pier will scale to “up to 150 truckloads once fully operational,” the DOD added in a statement.
ORDERING TROOPS
However, U.S. President Biden ordered American forces not to step foot on the Gaza shore, officials said.
A third party will be driving trucks down the pier onto the beach, Worthy News learned.
Biden, who seeks re-election this year, has made clear he does not want American troops caught up in Israel’s war against Hamas, deemed a terrorist organization by the Israeli government and most of its Western allies.
Yet, dangers for U.S. troops backing Israel were underscored Thursday as news emerged of a mortar attack near the area where the pier will eventually touch the ground.
No U.S. forces were present, but a United Nations team inspecting the site was reportedly forced to take shelter.
Efforts to reach Gaza with aid through the sea come after troubles with airdrops, with medics saying five people were shot dead in recent weeks and dozens more injured during riots over the distribution of aid delivered by plane.
Twelve people drowned trying to get to aid dropped by plane off a Gaza beach in March, several sources said. Others have reported deaths by stabbing, as well as in stampedes.
SEVERAL KILLED
Earlier last month, five were killed near what Palestinians view as the “coastal refugee camp” known as al-Shati, as a parachute failed to deploy properly and aid fell on waiting men, teenagers, and children.
Israel has come under pressure for allegedly not allowing enough aid into Gaza and using hunger as a weapon.
However, Israel has shrugged off these allegations, saying much aid is taken by Hamas or sold at black markets.
Despite the reported human suffering, Israel says it will continue its battle against Hamas.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry said Thursday that it has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, around two-thirds of them children and women.
Those figures have been difficult to verify independently in an area of virtually nonexistent press freedom.
The Israel-Hamas war was sparked by the unprecedented October 7 raid into southern Israel in which Hamas fighters killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 hostages.
Israel says Hamas is still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.
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