Gaza pier resumes operations after pause due to weather, US officials say

By HANNAH SARISOHN, REUTERS

Published: JUNE 11, 2024 20:49

Updated: JUNE 13, 2024 08:31

Members of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and the Israeli military put in place the Trident Pier, a temporary pier to deliver humanitarian aid, on the Gaza coast, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, May 16, 2024. (photo credit: US CENTRAL COMMAND/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS) — Members of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and the Israeli military put in place the Trident Pier, a temporary pier to deliver humanitarian aid, on the Gaza coast, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, May 16, 2024.

(photo credit: US CENTRAL COMMAND/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

Aid began arriving via the US-built pier May 17, and the UN said it transported 137 trucks of aid to warehouses, some 900 metric tons, before the US announced May 28 that it had suspended operations.

A floating US military pier off Gaza has resumed bringing humanitarian aid into the enclave after being suspended for two days because of rough seas due to weather, three US officials said on Tuesday.

After the pier was out of operation for 10 days for repairs, the US military briefly resumed offloading aid on Saturday, but bad sea conditions halted aid movement on Sunday and Monday.

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the sea conditions had improved, allowing for aid to be brought to a marshaling area.

The Pentagon on Monday sought to dispel what it said were false social media reports that Israel used the pier in a hostage rescue mission on Saturday. The UN said it would review security before resuming aid deliveries from the dock.

World Food Programme warehouses struck

The UN has not yet resumed transportation of the aid from the pier to UN World Food Programme warehouses. WFP chief Cindy McCain said on Sunday that those warehouses were struck on Saturday and one person injured.

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Aid began arriving via the US-built pier on May 17, and the UN said it transported 137 trucks of aid to warehouses, some 900 metric tons, before the US announced on May 28 that it had suspended operations so repairs could be made.

US President Joe Biden announced in March the plan to put the pier in place for aid deliveries as famine loomed in Gaza, a Hamas-run enclave of 2.3 million people, during the war between Israel and the Palestinian terrorists.