US military pier to begin operations off Gaza as soon as this weekend
Source: Politico
05/01/2024 04:39 PM EDT
Updated: 05/01/2024 05:02 PM EDT
The U.S. military-built pier off the coast of Gaza will be up and running as early as this weekend, and aid is expected to begin flowing into the enclave soon afterward, according to a U.S. official and a European official.
Officials are expected to make a decision on allowing the project to begin operations by Friday, meaning aid could begin flowing to Palestinians as early as Saturday or Sunday, the U.S. official said. However, that timeline could be delayed by environmental factors such as weather or logistical issues, the official cautioned. Both officials were granted anonymity to discuss dates before they are announced.
President Joe Biden announced the plan to establish a temporary port in Gaza to flow additional aid into the enclave by sea during his State of the Union speech in March. The project was seen as a way for Biden to show his critics that he’s taking more steps to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while also circumventing the Israeli government’s reluctance to open its land borders to additional aid trucks.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said Wednesday that the pier is more than 50 percent complete, but didn’t give a specific date for operations, saying it will be ready to deliver aid into Gaza by early May.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/01/us-pier-begin-operations-gaza-00155528
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