The US military has temporarily paused construction of a humanitarian pier and causeway off the coast of Gaza due to forecasted high winds and high sea swells, which have created unsafe conditions for soldiers working on the partially constructed pier. Construction began last week but has now been moved to the Port of Ashdod, one of Israel’s main cargo ports north of Gaza. The partially built pier and military vessels involved in its construction have been relocated to Ashdod for assembly until sea conditions improve, at which point they will be moved back to their intended location.
Up to 1,000 US troops are expected to be involved in the construction of the pier system known as Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS), which has the potential to provide up to 150 trucks per day of aid to the population in Gaza once operational. Initially, the JLOTS system was expected to be fully operational by Friday, but challenging sea conditions off the coast of Gaza have delayed progress. Tasks such as military divers working underneath the pier to secure and stabilize parts have been difficult and dangerous due to rough seas.
The operation of the pier and causeway, along with the need for US military personnel to be stationed at sea, is dependent on weather conditions. Once operational, the US Army and Navy will continually assess sea state conditions to ensure the safety of personnel, which may affect the speed of aid delivery operations. Once the pier is fully operational, the massive container ship Sagamore will transport humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza, as contracted by US Transportation Command. The ship is currently in Cyprus and is expected to be the first transporter of aid to the pier.
The goal is for other aid groups to contract their own cargo ships to ferry aid once the pier is deemed safe and functional. Aid has already started flowing into Cyprus to be shipped to Gaza via the maritime corridor. USAID administrator Samantha Power announced that over 500 pallets of humanitarian aid would soon arrive in Cyprus and be routed through the maritime corridor to address urgent needs in Gaza. The completion and operation of the pier system will facilitate the ongoing delivery of aid to the population in Gaza.
In summary, the construction of the humanitarian pier and causeway off the coast of Gaza by the US military has been temporarily paused due to challenging weather conditions. Once completed, the pier system has the potential to provide significant aid to the population in Gaza. The operation of the pier will require continued assessment of sea conditions to ensure the safety of personnel. Aid is already in transit to Cyprus for eventual shipment to Gaza through the maritime corridor, with plans for increased aid transport once the pier is fully operational.
