For the third time, the U.S. military has removed a pier built by the Biden administration in the Gaza Strip due to fears of damage from severe weather.
The pier, designed to transport humanitarian aid, had to be temporarily relocated to Ashdod, Israel, due to concerns that high waves could cause further damage to the project. according to Posted by U.S. Central Command on X. The $230 million pier has been plagued by problems and controversy since it was built in mid-May to help Palestinians suffering in the war between Israel and Hamas, and has already been removed twice. (Related: Pentagon says $62 million in arms aid to Ukraine “lost or destroyed,” but it's unclear which)
“Last week alone, over 10 million pounds of aid was delivered to Gaza via the pier, the second-largest aid shipment of any crossing of its kind,” X's post read. “Today, due to forecasts of poor weather and sea conditions, the pier was moved back from the Gaza coast to Ashdod, Israel.”
Since May 17, more than 8,831 tonnes of supplies (more than 19.4 million pounds) have been delivered by humanitarian organizations to the people of Gaza via the maritime corridor. In the last week alone, more than 10 million pounds of aid was delivered to Gaza via the maritime corridor. pic.twitter.com/VPjaO5ecVd
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 29, 2024
The pier was destroyed by heavy seas in May just two weeks after it was opened, costing tens of millions of dollars to repair, and two days after it was open again, the United Nations suspended shipping over safety concerns.
The Defense Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Inspector General said Thursday they would inspect the pier to assess the project's effectiveness in delivering aid after it was plagued by problems. The pier was hastily built and was unable to function in the Mediterranean's sometimes harsh conditions, causing frequent problems.
President Joe Biden had notified the Pentagon of the pier's plans just days before it was announced in March. The Mediterranean Sea often experiences “Sea Condition Level 4,” but the pier can usually only withstand “Sea Condition Level 3.”
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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