ALBAWABA - According to the Associated Press (AP), the US will temporarily restore the "humanitarian pier" and reconnect it to the Gaza beach on Wednesday, but only for a few days before it is deconstructed by the US Army and Navy.
According to the AP, the pier will be reopened exclusively for the purpose of moving humanitarian goods that have been stockpiled in Cyprus and on a floating dock offshore since the pier fell out of service on June 28 due to weather conditions.
Maj Gen Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's senior spokeswoman, stated on Tuesday that the pier was now at the Israeli port of Ashdod, which was utilized as a safe haven during poor weather, but added, "My understanding is that US Central Command intends to tentatively re-anchor the pier this week".
Heavy Israeli bombardments ravaged Gaza City on Tuesday, causing hundreds of Palestinians to evacuate and forcing medical facilities to close due to the continuous onslaught in Gaza's north.
In southern Gaza, an Israeli attack on a school-turned-shelter killed at least 25 people and injured scores more, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Gaza Temporary Floating Pier
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,".
Israeli soldiers were in charge of security on the shore, but two US Navy warships, the USS Arleigh Burke and the USS Paul Ignatius, were stationed nearby in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Both ships are destroyers, outfitted with a variety of armaments and capabilities to protect American troops offshore and friends on the beach.
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 38,243+ people, with more than 88,033+ 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.
