A “floating pier” built by the US Navy off the coast of Gaza was completed on Thursday and connected to the coast by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops.
During his State of the Union address in March, President Joe Biden announced a port project that would increase land access for humanitarian aid to Gaza. He promised that there would be no American “boots on the ground.” The United States relies on the IDF for land security at ports.
At approximately 7:40 a.m. (Gaza time) today, U.S. Central Command personnel anchored a temporary pier on the Gaza coast in support of a humanitarian mission to deliver additional humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in need. As part of this effort, the U.S. military will not be participating… pic.twitter.com/048seMnkLJ
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 16, 2024
NBC report The port was expected to be completed and installed within a day, officials said Wednesday. U.S. Central Command confirmed there were no U.S. troops in the Gaza Strip, but did not say whether they were in Israel.
IDF forces coordinated with the U.S. military as the pier was connected.
The IDF issued the following statement:
The connection of the floating pier in the Gaza Strip has been successfully completed. In recent weeks, the IDF and the Ministry of Defense have been making extensive preparations to receive the floating pier.
Preparations have been made over the past few weeks by the Department of Defense’s Engineering and Construction Bureau, IDF, and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. [COGAT] and in cooperation with the US military.
The IDF continues its humanitarian operations through COGAT, working with U.S. Central Command to establish a humanitarian floating pier in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, the IDF has opened a new land route for humanitarian supplies to reach Gaza from Jordan via Judea and Samaria (West Bank).
This week, IDF, through the Coordinator of Regional Government Operations (COGAT), continues its efforts to facilitate the transfer of hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks loaded with food, water, medical equipment, and evacuation equipment for Gaza residents. Therefore, today (Thursday), 365 humanitarian aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings operated by the Ministry of Defense Land Crossing Control Authority after thorough safety inspections.
Around 38 flour trucks and 76,000 liters of fuel were transported throughout the day and were transferred yesterday (Wednesday) to the World Food Program (WFP) organization to supply its bakeries operating across the Gaza Strip. . In addition, 17 Jordanian trucks carrying humanitarian supplies were transferred to the Gaza Strip today, out of hundreds of trucks transferred. Last Sunday, hundreds of tents purchased by the State of Israel and erected for the humanitarian area of Al Mawashi were opened in Kerem Shalom as part of a plan for the temporary evacuation of civilians from the Rafah area to the humanitarian area. It was carried through an intersection.
In addition, following instructions from the Israeli government and in coordination with the US government, this Monday the border between Tarkmiyyah and Beithunia in Judea and Samaria was opened for the first time since the start of the war to expand testing. The route of a humanitarian aid truck heading to the Gaza Strip as part of efforts to increase inspection rates of aid.
IDF will continue its efforts to allow humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip by land, air, and sea, in accordance with international law.
In recent weeks, Israeli right-wing demonstrators have attacked some aid convoys passing through Israel in Judea and Samaria. They oppose sending aid to Gaza, especially since there are still 133 Israeli hostages who may not receive aid. Many also believe that this aid will only help Hamas and thus prolong the war. The White House condemned the protests.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. He is the author of a recently published e-book.The Zionist conspiracy (and how to join it)” is now available on Audible. He is also the author of e-books, Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 US Presidential Election. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
