The temporary US military pier off the Gaza coast, constructed two months ago to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, is set to be permanently dismantled within days, according to recent reports.
The Associated Press, citing unnamed officials, states that the pier will be reconnected to the Gaza coastline on Wednesday for a brief final operation. This short-term reconnection aims to offload accumulated aid supplies from Cyprus and a nearby floating dock before the US Army and Navy disassemble the structure.
Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed plans to re-anchor the pier this week but did not comment on its long-term future. The pier is currently docked at the Israeli port of Ashdod, where it has been sheltering from adverse weather conditions.
Initially unveiled by President Joe Biden in March, the $230 million project was intended as a temporary measure to supplement limited aid entering through land crossings. However, its effectiveness has been hampered by choppy Mediterranean waters, resulting in fewer than 20 operational days since its May 17 deployment.
During its brief period of activity, approximately 8,800 metric tons of aid—equivalent to 500 truckloads—were unloaded via the pier. This amount represents roughly one day's worth of pre-war deliveries to Gaza.
Critics argue that the high-profile pier project diverted attention from efforts to pressure Israel to open more land crossings, widely considered the most efficient means of aid delivery. UN figures show a sharp decline in truck entries to Gaza through the remaining open crossings, from 840 in May to just 18 so far in July.
As the pier project comes to an end, the focus will shift back to land-based aid routes. A USAID spokesperson emphasized ongoing efforts to facilitate aid delivery through all available channels, including Ashdod port and the Erez West and Kerem Shalom crossings.
* The Guardian contributed to this article.