US Military Facilitates First Aid Delivery to Gaza via Temporary Pier

The US military has commenced the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza through a newly established temporary floating pier, marking a significant step in addressing the urgent needs of the war-ravaged Palestinian territory. The aid deliveries began on Friday, with trucks moving ashore at approximately 9 a.m. Gaza time, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

“This is an ongoing, multinational effort to deliver additional aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza via a maritime corridor that is entirely humanitarian in nature,” the statement said, noting that no US troops went ashore.

The temporary pier, successfully anchored on Thursday, is expected to facilitate the entry of around 500 tons of aid into Gaza in the coming days. CENTCOM released photos showing humanitarian aid being loaded onto a barge in the Israeli port of Ashdod.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has become increasingly dire, with international organizations warning of severe shortages of food and safe water, and the risk of famine. Aid deliveries have slowed significantly since Israeli forces took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah Crossing, with Egypt refusing to coordinate aid transfers under these conditions.

The United Nations emphasized the importance of opening land crossing points and allowing more aid convoys into Gaza as the most effective method to alleviate the crisis. UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq stated, “To stave off the horrors of famine, we must use the fastest and most obvious route to reach the people of Gaza – and for that, we need access by land now.”

Despite the challenges, the US military's installation of the pier represents a critical effort to deliver aid after months of intense fighting in Gaza. This initiative follows a directive from US President Joe Biden aimed at providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.

UN aid chief Martin Griffiths recently warned that famine was an immediate risk in Gaza, with food stocks rapidly depleting. The ongoing conflict, which began on October 7 with a massive Hamas-led attack on Israel, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement.

Israeli forces have targeted Rafah as part of their operations to dismantle Hamas infrastructure and eliminate terror operatives. This has led to further displacement, with some 600,000 people seeking shelter in other parts of Gaza. The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by the halt in aid through the Rafah Crossing and fresh fighting complicating distribution efforts.

Israel maintains that its operations aim to destroy Hamas battalions and prevent the diversion of aid by the terror group. Multiple instances of video footage have shown armed men on humanitarian aid trucks in Gaza, despite Hamas’s denials.

The State Department has urged Israel to allow sustained access for aid through both southern and northern parts of Gaza, expressing concern over the complete halt in travel and fuel flow through the Rafah Crossing.

Currently, three crossings are actively used to transfer aid from Israel to Gaza: Western Erez, Eastern Erez, and Gate 96. The Kerem Shalom Crossing also remains active for deliveries to southern Gaza. However, the halt at Rafah has significantly impacted aid deliveries.

The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s October 7 massacre, has resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 252 hostages taken by the terror group. In response, Israel launched a wide-scale military operation targeting Hamas across Gaza.

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