The US military has started building a large floating pier off Gaza's coast to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, the defence department has said. Ships will deliver aid from Cyprus to the pier where it will be loaded onto trucks to transfer across Gaza.

Jerusalem

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Israel-Gaza War

The US military has commenced the construction of an expansive floating pier off the coast of Gaza, aiming to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to the area, according to the Defense Department. This infrastructure project will enable ships to transport aid from Cyprus directly to the pier, from where it will be loaded onto trucks and distributed throughout Gaza.

Over one thousand US troops are participating in setting up the temporary pier, employing military vessels including the USNS Benavidez to lay the groundwork for the initial stages of the pier and an adjoining causeway at sea. This strategic location allows the troops to operate the system without touching the ground, maintaining a distance of several hundred meters from the beach and well outside mortar range.

Upon its anticipated completion in early May, the floating pier is expected to significantly increase aid delivery capabilities to up to 150 truckloads per day. However, a senior official from the Biden Administration indicated that the aid would still need to clear Israeli checkpoints on land after being inspected in Cyprus. This requirement may introduce potential delays in the distribution of aid once it has reached the shore.

This project comes amid reports from the United Nations describing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, which it refers to as a "humanitarian hellscape." The UN highlighted the steep decline in the average number of trucks able to enter Gaza with aid, which stood at 200 during April, falling well short of the minimum requirements set by the organization. These developments reflect growing international concern over possible famine in the region and underscore the urgency of improving aid delivery mechanisms to Gaza.



US begins building floating base to boost aid

The building of a floating pier off Gaza's coast is finally underway. More than a thousand US troops were involved in the operation that should help deliver more aid to the besieged strip. I can confirm that US military vessels to include the USNS Benavidez have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea. Ships will deliver aid from Cyprus to the pier where it will be loaded onto trucks to transfer across Gaza. US troops will be several hundred metres from the beach as they operate the system, allowing forces to avoid stepping on the ground. When it comes to the temporary pier and the causeway, those are being constructed offshore, out at sea and are essentially nowhere near mortar range. Once completed in early May, the pier should eventually allow for the delivery of up to 150 truckloads of aid per day. But a senior Biden official says aid will also need to pass through Israeli checkpoints on land, despite having been already inspected in Cyprus, raising questions about possible delays even after it reaches shore. The United Nations says Israel's operation has turned Gaza into a humanitarian hellscape amid fears of a looming famine. It says the daily average number of trucks entering Gaza during April was 200, less than half of the minimum UN requirements.

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Israel has ordered civilians in Rafah to move towards Khan Younis, in the clearest sign yet that a military operation is imminent. A ceasefire in Gaza looks as distant as ever with Hamas refusing to lay down arms unless there is a complete cessation of the war. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would go it alone if necessary, even in the face of criticism from its Western allies.

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Israel-Gaza War