Humanitarian aid for Gaza collected in Cyprus is being loaded onto ships ready for delivery once a temporary pier is reinstalled, as the United States works to repair the structure and recover two grounded vessels, the Pentagon said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, Deputy Pentagon Spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the pier repair was “underway at the Ashdod port” in Israel after it was damaged in recent conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants.
Challenges in Vessel Recovery
The recovery efforts for the two U.S. Army vessels that ran aground near the pier were “proving a little more difficult” than they expected, as they had taken on water and sand, Singh added.
“But we are working with the Israeli Navy to make sure that they can be pushed back and will be operational,” she said. “However, this does not affect the repair of the pier itself. That is still ongoing.”
Asked about the anchoring date, Singh said, “We’d be looking at sometime this week, most likely, to anchor. Of course, we’re always assessing environmental and security conditions on the ground, but hopeful that we are moving towards progress sometime this week.”
Commitment to Humanitarian Aid
The United States, together with USAID and other humanitarian groups, remains committed to ensuring aid reaches Gaza as soon as possible, she added.
The temporary pier had allowed for the delivery of fuel and supplies into Gaza before it was damaged. Its repair is seen as vital for getting humanitarian relief into the Palestinian territory after the latest outbreak of hostilities.
The United States is also working to recover two grounded vessels near the damaged pier, ensuring that logistical operations can resume smoothly. This concerted effort underscores the importance of maintaining critical infrastructure to facilitate humanitarian missions.
As the situation progresses, all eyes are on the Ashdod port, where each step forward brings hope for timely aid delivery to those in need in Gaza.
