The US military has completed work on a makeshift pier floating off the coast of Gaza, ready to receive aid shipments desperately needed in the region. The pier, built of steel pontoons anchored to the seabed, will serve as the first landing point for freighters coming from Cyprus, around 200 nautical miles away.
Guarded by 1,000 armed US soldiers, the pier is part of a complex logistics chain costing $320 million. Aid supplies will be unloaded here and transferred to trucks via forklifts, then loaded onto smaller army ships for transport closer to shore. From there, the supplies will be handed over to aid organizations for distribution.
Critics of the project argue that using the existing Israeli deep-sea port in Ashdod, just 30 kilometers north of Gaza, would be a more cost-effective option. They believe that President Biden could leverage US influence to open Ashdod and the Erez border crossing for aid deliveries, rather than committing to a costly and complex operation.
There are also concerns about the involvement of US soldiers in the conflict, despite assurances from President Biden that there will be “no US boots on the ground in Gaza.” With the pier within firing range of Gaza, there is a risk of military escalation. Additionally, there are speculations on social media about the true intentions behind the US military presence, including allegations of exploiting a gas field off the Gaza coast under the guise of humanitarian aid.
As aid organizations navigate the challenges of distribution in a region devastated by conflict and famine, the completion of the pier marks a critical step in providing much-needed relief to the people of Gaza. However, the project’s controversial nature and potential risks highlight the complex dynamics at play in the region.