US troops have begun construction of a sea pier off the coast of Gaza, with the aim of speeding up the flow of humanitarian aid to the enclave when it becomes operational in May, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
U.S. President Joe Biden announced the pier's construction in March as aid officials were pleading with Israel to make it easier for aid supplies to reach Gaza via land routes.
It is unclear whether the pier will be able to expand humanitarian aid. International authorities warn of the risk of famine in northern Gaza.
Israel's six-month military campaign against Hamas has devastated the tiny Gaza Strip and plunged its 2.3 million inhabitants into a humanitarian catastrophe.
On condition of anonymity, a senior Biden administration official told reporters that humanitarian aid arriving via the pier will need to pass through Israeli checkpoints on land. This is likely to occur despite the aid having already been inspected by Israel in Cyprus before being sent to Gaza. Israel wants to prevent any aid from reaching Hamas fighters.
The prospect of checkpoints raises questions about possible delays even after aid reaches shore. The United Nations has long complained about obstacles to receiving and distributing aid in Gaza.
“I can confirm that U.S. military vessels, including the USNS Benavidez, have begun construction of the initial stages of the temporary pier and sea walkway,” said Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder.
Concerns about the risk of American troops being drawn into the war between Israel and Hamas gained momentum on Thursday when news emerged of a mortar attack near the area where the pier will eventually touch down. No US forces were present, and Biden ordered US forces not to set foot on the Gaza coast.
Initially, the pier will handle 90 trucks per day, but this number could increase to 150 trucks per day when fully operational. The United Nations said this week that the average daily number of trucks entering Gaza in April was 200 and that there was a peak of 316 on Monday.
The official added that about 1,000 American troops are expected to support the military effort, including in coordination cells in Cyprus and Israel.
A third party will drive trucks down the pier to the beach, the official added.
The north of the Gaza Strip still has famine lurking, the UN's deputy food chief said on Thursday, calling for greater aid and for Israel to allow direct access from the port of Ashdod in the south of the Gaza Strip. country, at the pass of Erez.
In a statement, the Israeli military said it would provide security and logistical support for the pier.
An Israeli military brigade, which includes thousands of soldiers, along with Israeli Navy and Air Force ships, is expected to protect American troops manning the pier.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart in Washington; additional reporting by Dan Williams in Jerusalem)
Source: CNN Brasil
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