US Reattaches Gaza Pier to Beach After Temporary Relocation, Resumes Aid Delivery

U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), U.S. Navy sailors assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion 1, and Israel Defense Forces placing the Trident Pier on the coast of Gaza Strip on May 16, 2024. U.S. Central Command via AP

The U.S.-built temporary pier for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza has been reattached to the Gaza coast after being temporarily relocated to an Israeli port due to rough seas last week, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

“I can confirm that U.S. Central Command personnel re-anchored and re-established the temporary pier to the Gaza beach yesterday,” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters.

This is the second time that the pier, known as Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) system, has been reattached to the Gaza coast after being relocated in anticipation of high seas. The first relocation occurred after it was damaged in a May 25 storm and reattached on June 7.

“As has been the case in the past, Israeli Defense Force engineers provided all the necessary support to ensure the safe emplacement of the pier on the beach, and there were no U.S. boots on the ground during the re-establishment of the pier,” the Pentagon spokesman stated.

Maj. Gen. Ryder said the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza has resumed, with more than 656 metric tons, or 1.4 million pounds, of aid supplies being delivered to the marshaling yard in the enclave on Thursday.

This marks the largest amount of aid delivered through the U.S.-built pier to Gaza in a single day since it became operational on May 17, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

Maj. Gen. Ryder also refuted reports suggesting that the maritime pier could be dismantled ahead of schedule due to the difficulties in boosting humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza amid the ongoing Israel–Hamas war.

“We have not established an end date for this mission as of now, contrary to some press reporting on the matter,” he stated.

“Therefore, we'll continue to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian aid via the maritime corridor, and as always, take necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of the personnel operating the pier, to include adjusting to sea states in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the same way we do with aircraft operations in the event of inclement weather or conditions,” Maj. Gen. Ryder said.

CENTCOM said that to date, more than 4,160 metric tons, or 9.1 million pounds, of humanitarian aid have been delivered across the U.S.-built pier to the marshaling area in Gaza.

The U.S. military has used both the JLOTS pier and air-drops to facilitate increased humanitarian assistance to the embattled Gaza Strip, amid signs of a burgeoning famine in the enclave.

Caden Pearson contributed to this report.