The U.S military has announced the closure of a floating dock that transported aid to the Gaza Strip.
Deputy Commander of Central Command Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper in an online briefing said the maritime surge mission involving the pier is complete. So, there’s no more need to use the pier.
He said the maritime mission will transition from a temporary pier in Gaza to a port in Ashdod, Israel.
He added that in the past few weeks, a new hybrid pathway is being utilised from the sea and land to deliver aid from Cyprus to the port of Ashdod, Israel, then into North Gaza via the UN and WFP (World Food Program),” he added.
Cooper stated that millions of pounds in aid are likely to enter Gaza via the pipeline in the coming weeks.
The $230 million pier, intended to increase deliveries of badly needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, has been halted multiple times.
On March 8, US President Joe Biden approved the development of a maritime channel to supply food and relief to Palestinians, despite Israeli restrictions and months of warfare in the enclave.
Biden stated two weeks ago at a NATO summit that he was “disappointed” by the failure but “hopeful that it would be more successful.”
The pier is currently located at the Ashdod port. It has been operational for about 20 days since its installation in May owing to inclement weather and mechanical failures.
