The Pentagon has confirmed that the U.S. military has started constructing a pier and causeway to distribute humanitarian aid into Gaza during the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The temporary pier and causeway are being built off the coast of Gaza, with the U.S. military vessels, including the USS Benavidez, involved in the construction process. The Department of Defense spokesman, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, mentioned that the pier is expected to be operational by early May and that it would take around 1,000 service members to complete the construction. The aim is to rush aid to the people of Gaza who are facing shortages of food, water, and medicine due to the conflict.
Despite the ongoing hostilities and struggles to coordinate with the Israeli military, efforts are being made to get aid to Gaza. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war last October, and the 2.3 million residents of Gaza are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Israel has sent aid trucks across the border, and the U.S. has conducted humanitarian aid air drops. However, getting aid to the area has been challenging due to blockages by the Israeli military and slow deliveries caused by inspections. The construction of the modular causeway system is expected to facilitate the distribution of aid by allowing ships to deposit aid, which would then be transported to the shore via a motorized string of steel causeway sections.
Last month, the Pentagon announced that it could deliver over 2 million meals a day using the temporary offshore maritime pier that is being constructed. The concept involves establishing a temporary offshore maritime pier where shipping vessels can transfer cargo to smaller vessels for transport and offloading to a temporary causeway for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. The presence of U.S. military personnel on military vessels offshore is part of the plan, but it does not require them to go ashore. The Israel Defense Forces have approved collaborative efforts for the new Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) initiative led by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to enhance the distribution of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In response to the construction of the pier and causeway, the Israel Defense Forces have also committed to providing security and logistics support for the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) initiative. The IDF’s involvement in the initiative includes the establishment of a temporary floating pier to deliver humanitarian aid from the sea into Gaza. This collaboration with the international community demonstrates the IDF’s commitment to ensuring the continuous entry of humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. With the construction of the pier underway and the joint efforts to increase the flow of aid into Gaza, there is hope that more assistance will reach those in need during these challenging times.
