The United States has announced the successful completion of the Gaza pier project, a complex operation aimed at facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Strip amid increased fears of famine. After weeks of construction and logistical challenges, the temporary floating pier and causeway are now ready to receive and transport international supplies from Cyprus to the people of Gaza.
Project Overview and Purpose
The Gaza pier project, initiated by President Joe Biden in March during the State of the Union Address, is designed to create a new maritime route for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. The project involves a temporary floating pier and a causeway that extends approximately 550 meters (1,800 feet) to the shoreline, enabling aid shipments to bypass land routes into Gaza.
BREAKING: In his State of the Union address, @POTUS announced that the U.S. military is establishing a temporary pier in the Mediterranean to provide urgent aid to Gaza — enabling the delivery of food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters to the region. #SOTU2024 pic.twitter.com/9UfN0IZkEK
— Building Back Together (@BuildingBack_US) March 8, 2024
The primary goal of the pier is to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has left the population facing acute food insecurity and the risk of famine, a situation which the United Nations has described as dire. The new maritime corridor is expected to provide a more efficient and reliable means of delivering aid, supplementing existing land-based efforts.
Construction Challenges and Security Concerns
Just Days after the State of the Union Address, the United States Army General Frank S. Besson Jr.-class RoRo vessels USAV SP4 James A. Loux and USAV General Frank S. Besson Jr., along with the Runnymede-class large landing craft USAV Matamoros, USAV Monterrey, and USAV Wilson Wharf, departed Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, to begin their voyage to the Mediterranean Sea to “establish a roll-on, roll-off dock capability that allows ship to shore humanitarian assistance to Gaza.”
During this time, construction began on the Strip to create the jetty.
By April the vessels, along with the Bob Hope-class RoRo vessel USNS Benavidez and RFA Bay-class landing ship RFA Cardigan Bay, arrived off the coast of Gaza to begin construction of the off-shore portion of the pier.
Pier-building begins
Construction of the floating JLOTS pier in the Mediterranean is underway.
The pier will support @USAID and humanitarian partners to receive and deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. @USTRANSCOM and @USEUCOM support the movement of… pic.twitter.com/tC9J12wz4Z
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 29, 2024
The construction of the pier was not without its challenges. On April 25, Hamas was accused of launching mortars at the construction site, damaging several pieces engineering equipment and slightly injuring one person. Likewise, construction efforts were delayed due to inclement weather.
Despite the challenges, the U.S. military continued with the construction, implementing stringent security measures to protect the approximately 1,000 U.S. Army and Navy personnel involved in the project. The U.S. Navy warships, USS Arleigh Burke and USS Paul Ignatius, were stationed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to provide offshore protection, while Israeli forces were tasked with securing the shoreline area.
Completion and Operational Readiness
The final stage of the installation process was completed on Thursday morning, with the causeway being anchored to the shore. According to the Pentagon, the initial shipments are expected to provide enough aid to feed approximately 11,000 people for one month, with plans to gradually increase the volume to around 150 truckloads per day.
The aid will be transported from Cyprus to the floating platform stationed several miles off the Gazan coast. From there, it will be transferred onto smaller vessels and transported to the causeway, which will then facilitate the delivery of supplies to the shore. The U.S. military has emphasized that no American troops will set foot in Gaza, with all operations being conducted from offshore.
FIRST LOOK: The connection of the floating pier to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza to continue providing aid by air, land and sea.
With the assistance of the @Israel_MOD and coordination with @cogatonline and @CENTCOM, we have made extensive preparations to receive the pier. pic.twitter.com/r3KdUyNywa
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 16, 2024
Humanitarian Impact and Future Prospects
The completion of the pier project, estimated to cost around $320 million, marks a significant milestone in the international community’s efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The new maritime route is expected to expedite the delivery of essential supplies, including food, medical supplies, and fuel, which are critical for the survival of the population.
However, aid organizations have emphasized that the volume of aid delivered through the pier will still be insufficient to prevent an impending famine in Gaza. They have called for a broader effort by Israel to open land corridors and facilitate the flow of aid. The maritime corridor is not intended to replace land-based aid deliveries, but to supplement them and alleviate the strain on the overland routes.
Political and Strategic Implications
The Gaza pier project has significant political and strategic implications. It represents a major U.S. initiative to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and underscores the Biden Administration’s attempts at providing relief to the Palestinian population. The project has also drawn international attention to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and the urgent need for a sustainable solution to the humanitarian crisis.
The project has faced criticism from some quarters, with concerns about the involvement of American troops in Israel’s campaign in Gaza and the risks to their safety. Some lawmakers have raised concerns about the potential for the pier to become a target for attacks. Despite these concerns, the U.S. military stated it has implemented robust security measures to protect its personnel and ensure the safe delivery of aid.
Conclusion
The Gaza pier project is a significant step forward in the international community’s efforts to provide relief to the people of Gaza, representing an alternative approach to delivering humanitarian aid in a challenging and volatile environment. As the project moves into its operational phase, it is essential to monitor its impact and address any challenges that may arise to ensure the continued flow of aid.
As aid begins to flow through this new maritime route, it is crucial for all parties involved to work together to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of essential supplies to those in need. The international community must continue to support efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and work towards a sustainable solution that ensures the well-being of the civilian population.
The U.S. military has said it will provide its own security for Army and Navy forces offshore, while Israel will take care of security onshore. The British navy announced toward the end of April that a support ship, RFA Cardigan Bay, was sailing to provide accommodation for hundreds of U.S. sailors and soldiers working to establish the platform.
The project has also faced logistical challenges, including poor weather conditions that have hampered preparations. The Pentagon has reported that high winds and sea swells have made it unsafe to move the temporary dock into place.
The international community has expressed support for the project, with several countries pledging to provide aid and logistical support. The World Food Programme has agreed to oversee the delivery operation, but the UN agency emphasized that Israel must ensure the safety of aid workers. Numerous aid organizations have expressed concerns about operating in Gaza, citing the risks posed by the ongoing conflict.