Due to inclement weather conditions, an American-made floating pier intended to deliver immediate aid to the 2.3 million Palestinians of Gaza is currently stationary near Israel’s Ashdod port. Major General Pat Ryder of the US Air Force stated that the pier could be situated off the coast of Gaza soon, contingent on favourable security and climate conditions.
The Sagamore, a US naval container ship loaded with aid from both the US and UK, departed from the port of Larnaca in Cyprus last Thursday. The departure kick-starts a complex operation of delivering American aid through the sea route between Cyprus and Gaza. The Sagamore is also stationed off Ashdod, where it has already started to transfer its cargo to the Roy P Benavidez, another US naval vessel. Upon completion of the transfer, the Sagamore is scheduled to return to Larnaca for additional supplies.
The floating pier, valued at €298 million, will be positioned 5km away from Gaza’s coastline. Smaller boats will transport aid to a US-constructed floating causeway that connects to the mainland. Cargo will then be loaded onto trucks which humanitarian organisations will collect for distribution.
A few issues need to be addressed before the delivery process can begin. International aid organisations have raised objections to Israel’s control at the Gaza landing stage and the use of Israeli drivers for transporting the supplies via the causeway, as they do not want to be seen as collaborators with Israel.
There are criticisms that the pier won’t be able to deliver enough aid to meet the needs of the Gaza population. Initial predictions estimate that approximately 90 lorry-loads of aid will be delivered daily via the pier, with an expected future increase to 150. This is seen as inadequate, particularly as Rafah and Kerem Shalom, the main crossings, have recently been closed due to Israeli military activities in eastern Rafah.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh expressed this floating pier was a temporary solution and further emphasised the importance of opening up land routes for delivering humanitarian aid. Accusations against Israel of obstructing and delay aid have been reported by various relief agencies. There are also concerns regarding the pier being positioned offshore from the Netzarim corridor, a military road that separates Gaza into northern and southern segments. This could potentially allow the Israeli military to block aid for 300,000 people situated in north Gaza.