The US moves the temporary dock from Gaza to Ashdod (Israel) due to strong waves

June 15 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Central Command of the United States Armed Forces (CENTCOM) announced this Friday that it will temporarily move the floating dock installed in Gaza to Ashdod, in Israel, to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid as a result of the strong waves.

“Today, due to the expected high seas, the temporary dock will be removed from its anchored position in Gaza and towed back to Ashdod, Israel,” CENTCOM reported in a post on the social network “the safety of (their) service members is a top priority” and that “the temporary relocation of the pier will prevent structural damage caused by the elevated sea state.”

The US Army has defended that “the decision to relocate the pier has not been taken lightly” and has insisted that it is a “necessary action to ensure that the temporary pier can continue to provide aid in the future.”

“After the expected period of high seas, the dock will quickly re-anchor on the Gaza coast and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza will resume,” the command said.

This is the third time in a month that the United States has stopped humanitarian aid shipments through the temporary Gaza dock, after the Department of Defense announced this Wednesday the resumption of humanitarian delivery to the Strip through this structure after another two-month break also due to high tides.

MORE THAN 3,500 TONS OF AID

CENTCOM itself has highlighted that, since May 17, “more than 3,500 metric tons (…) have been delivered through the maritime corridor for subsequent delivery by humanitarian organizations.”

Of this total, “approximately 2,500 metric tons (…) have been delivered through the maritime corridor since the temporary dock was re-anchored on Gaza Beach on June 7,” according to the US Armed Forces.

“US Central Command also conducted a humanitarian assistance airdrop in northern Gaza on June 9, to provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.” Thus, “to date, the US has airdropped more than 1,050 metric tons (…) of humanitarian assistance, in addition to the assistance delivered through the maritime corridor,” they added.

The US authorities completed this floating dock in mid-May, with which Washington sought to facilitate the disembarkation of aid sent by sea. In March, a maritime corridor from Cyprus was inaugurated to alleviate the serious needs in the Strip.

Humanitarian organizations have denounced, however, that neither these shipments nor the launch of aid from the air are enough to cover all the gaps and have instead demanded the unhindered entry of aid through the land border, controlled entirely by Israel. .