The United States has stressed that its temporary aid pier in Gaza was not used in the Israeli captive rescue operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza that killed more than 270 people. The Pentagon said that reports linking the pier to Saturday’s Israeli assault that resulted in the freeing of four captives held by Hamas are “inaccurate”.

Sderot

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Israel-Gaza War

The United States is investigating the reasons behind the failure of its temporary humanitarian aid pier in Gaza. The U.S. Navy constructed the pier to facilitate aid delivery, but it succumbed to high waves shortly after becoming operational. Publicly available information confirms that U.S. Navy personnel were responsible for its construction and protection, which included the installation of an air defense system.

The pier was meant to improve the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. It became operational, with U.S. Navy ships connecting it to Gaza's shore on a causeway. However, just eight days after it started functioning, high waves overwhelmed the pier, jeopardizing its mission. During its brief operational period, only 29 trucks managed to deliver 99 shipments.

The Pentagon has clarified that reports linking the pier to a recent Israeli operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp are inaccurate. This operation led to the freeing of four captives held by Hamas and resulted in the deaths of more than 270 people. The Pentagon stressed that the pier was not used in this military action.



U.S. investigates reasons behind Gaza pier failure

It took just six weeks for the U.S.-built humanitarian pier to fail. On May 15th, U.S. Navy ships sailed from the Israeli port of Ashdod to Gaza, as these exclusive Al Jazeera images show. These are warships and logistics vessels responsible for connecting the floating structure to Gaza's shore on a causeway in the Sheikh Al Jinn area. The pier became operational on May 17th, supported by two ships sitting about nine kilometers off the coast. The images show two U.S. ships and a smaller one intended to transport trucks onto the pier. But problems arose almost immediately. Eight days later, high waves overwhelmed the pier. Over that period, just 29 trucks delivered 99 shipments into Gaza. Publicly available logistics details show U.S. Navy personnel constructing the pier. U.S. officials said their mission was also to protect it, armed with machine guns and armored vehicles. U.S. forces also installed an air defense system and attached it to the eastern side of the pier. When the pier collapsed, they had to dismantle the system as well. In the meantime, two million Palestinians continue to suffer, with not nearly enough aid getting into Gaza by land, air, or sea. Wilson Dysart, Al Jazeera.

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Israel-Gaza War