ALBAWABA - The Pentagon announced that the US Military has concluded construction of its Gaza aid pier, which it claims is aimed at boosting deliveries of desperately needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The pier cost the US government approximately $320 million. During a press conference, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters that "the construction of the two portions of the JLOTS (Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore) — the floating pier and the Trident pier — are complete and awaiting final movement offshore,".
"Today there are still forecasted high winds and high sea swells, which are causing unsafe conditions for the JLOTS components to be moved. So the pier sections and military vessels involved in its construction are still positioned at the port of Ashdod," Singh continued.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) "stands by to move the pier into position in the near future," Singh added.
Last week's heavy weather forced the vessels and the under-construction pier to relocate to the port. Once the weather clears, Israeli soldiers will anchor the pier to the Gaza beach, keeping US Marines off the ground.
Aid will subsequently be delivered by commercial vessels to a floating platform off the Gaza coast, where it will be transferred to smaller ships, brought to the pier, and distributed by truck on land.
Plans for the pier were initially announced by US President Joe Biden in early March, while Israel blocked ground-based aid deliveries, and US Army personnel and warships immediately embarked on a lengthy trip to the Mediterranean to construct it.
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
The latest statistics by the Ministry of Health in Gaza revealed that the death toll from Israeli brutal pounding on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has soared to 34,789+ people, with more than 78,204+ injuries.
Since then, approximately 85% of Gazans have been displaced, all of whom are suffering from severe food insecurity, and the healthcare system has collapsed. Hundreds of thousands of people lack shelter, and aid trucks are entering the area at a lower rate than before the conflict began.
