WASHINGTON – Plagued by looting and weather-related problems, a high-profile $230 million pier that the Biden administration declared would deliver massive amounts of humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza is set to close after just two months.
“We expect to wind down operations at the wharf in a relatively short period of time,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Thursday.
Sullivan suggested that with major border crossings recently reopened during the Israeli-Hamas war, the temporary floating dock built by the U.S. is no longer essential for delivering food, water and other humanitarian aid to Gaza. The first shipment of humanitarian aid arrived at the dock on May 17.
“The real problem right now is not getting aid into Gaza, it’s getting aid around Gaza,” Sullivan said.
more:See the restoration process after part of Gaza’s floating dock was washed away
President Joe Biden announced the construction of the pier during his State of the Union address in March, saying it would “allow for a significant increase in the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza every day.”
But the pier has been plagued by problems from the start: The Pentagon said Thursday that soldiers failed to refloat the pier, which was used to transport humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday and instead towed it to Israel, raising doubts about whether the pier will ever function again.
Insurgents hijacked the first relief convoy in May, after bad weather and heavy seas caused a jetty to break away from shore, stranding ships involved in the relief effort and wounding at least three of the 1,000 soldiers taking part in the operation.
‘Good thing’
Still, Sullivan said he sees it as a success. “I consider any outcome that gets more food and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza a success,” he said. “It’s additive. It’s adding to what wasn’t originally there, and that’s a good thing.”
more:‘Astonishing’: Hijackings, riots and fighting threaten humanitarian aid from new US military dock in Gaza
The pier has been towed to Israel and will remain there for the time being, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Ryder said in a statement on Thursday.
The pier helped transport approximately £20 million of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
“The pier is expected to close soon and more details regarding the process and timing will be announced in the coming days,” Ryder said.
Joey Garrison can be reached at X. His former Twitter address is @joeygarrison.
