Name: U.S. built aid pier scrapped as parts of Gaza starve
Uploaded: 2024-07-12T04:55:55.391Z
Duration: 2 min 22 s
Description: The Pentagon has declared its intention to dismantle its Gaza coast pier, originally built to deliver aid to the strip, amidst ongoing controversy surrounding its existence.

The Pentagon has declared its intention to dismantle its Gaza coast pier, originally built to deliver aid to the strip, amidst ongoing controversy surrounding its existence.

Jerusalem

The U.S-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza is holding, after Hamas released the remaining Israeli hostages.

Middle East Conflict

The Pentagon has announced plans to dismantle a temporary pier constructed on the Gaza coast, which was intended to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The pier, which started operations after an announcement during a State of the Union address about the U.S. commitment to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza, faced numerous technical and weather-related issues, leading to its removal.

Since becoming operational, the pier managed to unload over 8,100 metric tons of humanitarian aid, which is only a fraction of Gaza's needs. The distribution of this aid has faced significant challenges as humanitarian groups expressed safety concerns over transporting supplies. The U.S. maintained a stance against deploying military personnel on the ground to assist with logistics.

Despite its initial goal, the project was hindered by unexpected weather conditions in the Mediterranean, which the pier was not designed to withstand. Recently, Central Command decided to dismantle the pier due to high sea states and tow it back to Ashdod, Israel. The $230 million project was operational for only 20 days before being scrapped entirely.

The situation in Gaza has worsened, with certain areas entering full-blown famine conditions. In parallel, U.N. reports indicated that aid deliveries have dramatically decreased due to Israeli military actions. Throughout the pier's brief operation, available land routes for aid delivery to Gaza were not utilized by the U.S. to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.



U.S. built aid pier scrapped as parts of Gaza starve

the U.S. would construct a pier to transport aid into Gaza during his State of the Union address in March. It was a time of growing anger in the Democratic Party base at the U.S.'s unconditional support for Israel's campaign of bombing and enforced starvation. A temporary pier will enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day. The announcement was reported to have taken many in the Pentagon by surprise, but the U.S. military vowed to construct the pier and have it operational within weeks. And over two months later, on May 17, the pier did become operational. Since then, the Pentagon says it's unloaded more than 8,100 metric tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza. It's a fraction of what Gaza needs, and it's unclear where much of that aid ended up. In late May, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder was asked if any of the aid had been delivered to the people of Gaza. This was his response. As of today, I do not believe so. In recent weeks, much of the aid was piling up in a staging area adjacent to the pier. Humanitarian groups were unwilling to transport the supplies out of concern for safety, and the U.S. has long insisted there would be no U.S. boots on the ground. What's finally been the fatal blow for this project is that it appears the Pentagon was surprised by the Mediterranean's conditions in the summer, conditions that this type of pier is not designed to withstand. The pier had to be dismantled several times due to what the U.S. says were technical and weather-related issues most recently several days ago. Now, due to high sea states expected this weekend, Central Command has removed the temporary pier from its anchored position in Gaza and will tow it back to Ashdod, Israel. An attempt to reattach the pier was aborted on Wednesday, and soon the entire project will be scrapped. The $230 million pier was in operation for a total of 20 days. Since its construction, areas of Gaza have officially been declared as entering full-blown famine. And at the end of May, the U.N. said aid deliveries had dropped by some two-thirds due to Israeli military action. Throughout the conception, construction and brief operation of the pier, the land routes that could supply the people of Gaza with what they need were available. But the U.S. didn't use its leverage to force Israel to open them for the safe delivery of aid. Ali Abertansi, Al Jazeera, Washington.

More than 200,000 people are expected to attend the Los Angeles Dodgers' victory parade on Monday after they won the World Series over the weekend. The Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in 11 innings in Game 7 to become the first team in 25 years to win back-to-back World Series.

Los Angeles

Dodgers to hold championship parade after World Series victory

A 32-year-old man suspected of carrying out a bloody stabbing on a United Kingdom train is facing at least 10 criminal charges. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

London

UK train stabbing spree suspect faces attempted murder charges

Hamas handed over bodies of three hostages on Sunday (November 2), even as the Palestinian militant group traded blame with Israel for violations of the tenuous truce that has mostly halted two years of war.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Hamas hands over three more hostage bodies amid fragile ceasefire

Israel has threatened to increase attacks on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon if the Lebanese government doesn't disarm the militant group, despite a ceasefire.

Israel warns of intensified strikes on Hezbollah if disarmament fails

U.S President Donald Trump has long promised to build a ballroom on the White House campus.
He originally said it wouldn’t touch the existing structure. But after just four days, the East Wing is gone. Torn down to make way for a much bigger ballroom than originally planned.

Washington

Trump’s $300m White House ballroom project sparks controversy

Two more suspects, a man and a woman arrested this week over the jewel heist at the Louvre, have been charged and remanded in custody, prosecutors have said. The charges on Saturday brought the number of people now charged over the spectacular robbery to four.

Paris

Two more charged over Louvre jewelry heist

British police say eleven people were injured, most of them seriously, in a mass stabbing on a London-bound train Saturday evening. Authorities have arrested two British-born men and are investigating their motive in the incident.

UK police rule out terrorism after mass stabbing on train

Egypt has officially opened the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the world's largest museum dedicated to an ancient civilization. The new museum features tens of thousands of artifacts, including the full collection from King Tutankhamen's tomb.

Cairo

Grand Egyptian Museum opens after two decades of construction

Voters in New York, New Jersey, Virginia and California have already hit the polls for early voting before election day on Nov. 4. CBS News producer Jared Ochacher is following the New York City mayoral race.

New York

Mamdani commands double-digit lead over opponents in NYC mayoral race

The two-day APEC summit in South Korea has wrapped up with President Lee Jae Myung handing over hosting duties to China. Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced the southern city of Shenzhen as the site for next year's summit.

Seoul

Rise of AI

Global Tariffs

APEC summit ends, Trump and Xi reach truce in trade war

When a US aircraft carrier arrives in the Caribbean next week, there will be 14,500 American troops in and around Puerto Rico. The Trump administration says it's aimed at curbing drug trafficking. But many fear something much bigger to come.

San Juan

Fears of conflict in Caribbean amid U.S military build-up

The coastal town of Black River, described by the Jamaican government as Hurricane Melissa's "ground zero," lies devastated after one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record tore through the island, claiming at least 19 lives and leaving a trail of unprecedented destruction.

Black River

Jamaica reels from catastrophic hurricane Melissa

FBI Director Kash Patel announced an operation that apparently "thwarted a potential terrorist attack" during Halloween weekend in Michigan. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane has more.

Dearborn

Patel says FBI stopped a potential "terror attack" in Michigan

Washington and Beijing are "in agreement on many things," U.S. President Donald Trump said after the face-to-face meeting that lasted nearly two hours, the first between both leaders in six years.

Busan

Trump announces deal with China after talks with Xi in South Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the resumption of nuclear weapons tests for the first time since 1992. A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia had successfully tested a nuclear-powered super torpedo.

Trump orders nuke tests after Russia tests nuclear-powered torpedo

Sudan and the UAE clash at the UN Security Council—Khartoum accuses Abu Dhabi of funding the RSF amid reports of atrocities.

UN Security Council meeting: Sudan and UAE trade heated accusations

U.S.-China tensions cast a shadow over the APEC summit in South Korea — Leaders debate trade, diplomacy, and the bloc’s mission of free trade.

Gyeongju-si

APEC summit: U.S.-China rivalry looms over trade and diplomacy

Microsoft, Meta and Alphabet recently reported their quarterly earnings and one thing is certain: the jaw-dropping investments in artificial intelligence are only just getting started. This all comes just days after Nvidia became the world's first-ever $5 trillion company.

California

Meta stock falls over 10% after commitment to raise AI spending

CBS News has confirmed that the Pentagon ordered all state National Guards to form what they're calling "quick reaction forces" available for rapid deployments to address potential civil unrest.

Pentagon orders state National Guards to form rapid response units

Taylor Taranto has been sentenced to time served plus 36 months of supervised release after being convicted of threatening former President Barack Obama. He was also pardoned on Jan. 6 Capitol rioting charges by President Trump earlier this year.

Taylor Taranto sentenced to time served for Obama threat

Authorities have charged five people in connection with the overdose deaths of three 19-year-olds, including Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, the grandson of actor Robert De Niro.

Five arrested over overdose death of Robert De Niro’s grandson

Prince Andrew is being stripped of his royal titles and must move out of his mansion, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday. Andrew has come under intense scrutiny over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Andrew stripped of royal titles over Jeffrey Epstein ties

French police have now detained seven people over the robbery at France's landmark museum on 19 October.

Louvre heist: Five new suspects arrested as search for jewels continues

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that China has approved a TikTok transfer deal. CBS News White House reporter Willie James Inman has more.

Treasury Secretary Bessent says China approved TikTok transfer deal

As Hurricane Melissa continues its trail of death and devastation through the Caribbean, Jamaica is taking stock. With over 75% of the country without power and $22 billion in damage, experts estimate recovery could take a decade.

Kingston

Jamaica reels as Hurricane Melissa leaves behind devastation

House lawmakers have been told their paychecks will be delayed until Congress passes a new funding bill. CBS News congressional reporter Taurean Small has the latest on the government shutdown.

See The Full Story

Middle East Conflict