Pier built off Gaza in the US collapses

The US military’s temporary pier in Gaza, constructed to transport aid into the war-torn enclave, suffered significant damage in heavy seas on Tuesday, dealing a major setback to the American-led humanitarian effort. The Pentagon announced that sections of the pier need rebuilding and repairing after it broke apart, forcing a halt in operations.

The damaged pier will be removed from its location on the Gaza coast and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod for repairs, which are expected to take more than a week. This delay further complicates the already challenging task of creating a maritime corridor for delivering much-needed supplies to Gaza.

The pier, costing $320 million, had only been operational for a week before heavy seas caused it to stop functioning. The Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) system requires optimal sea conditions to operate safely, with waves not exceeding 3 feet and winds below 15 miles per hour.

Despite the setback, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper of US Central Command reported that over 1,000 metric tons of aid had already been delivered through the pier before operations were halted. However, with the temporary pier now inoperable, thousands of tons of aid waiting in Cyprus are on hold.

The US has emphasized that the temporary pier is meant to supplement aid shipments through land crossings between Israel and Gaza. The situation remains uncertain as repairs are underway, and the timeline for resuming maritime operations is unclear.