The United States will begin construction “very soon” of a pier in Gaza, intended to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory bombed and besieged by Israel, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
“All the necessary ships are in the Mediterranean region and standing by,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder told reporters of the boats carrying equipment for the pier project.
“We are able to start construction very soon,” he added, without specifying a timetable.
An artificial port announced in early March
Faced with delays and blockages by Israel regarding the delivery by land of humanitarian aid to a Gaza Strip hit by a humanitarian disaster, American President Joe Biden announced in early March the construction of an artificial port.
This temporary seaport should allow military or civilian ships to deposit their cargo. Aid must then be delivered by logistical support vessels to a jetty on the coast.
US officials have said the move will not involve “ground troops” in the war-torn Palestinian territory. However, American soldiers will be near the Gaza Strip during the construction of the pier, which is expected to be supervised by Israeli troops.
NGOs will probably be responsible for distributing the aid once delivered to the territory, the Pentagon had already indicated.