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Construction is now in full swing. The image has been published by the US military command Centcom.
1 / 2Photo: Centcom Via TT
The United States has now published pictures of the pier construction that has begun in the Gaza Strip, to facilitate emergency aid by sea via the Mediterranean.
“The construction of the floating pier in the Mediterranean is underway,” writes the regional military command Centcom on X (Twitter).
According to information last week, it is American military ships that are building the temporary port facility. It consists of floating pontoons that are assembled into a larger jetty. The hope is that the pier can be put into use already shortly after the end of the month.
Aid shipments by land to the Gaza Strip’s distressed civilian population have often been stuck in tight security checkpoints at the borders with Israel and Egypt.
But even the sea route awaits rigorous controls. The emergency aid must first be inspected in Cyprus before it can continue across the sea east towards Gaza.
Initially, the capacity is expected to be the equivalent of around 90 trucks every day, which will then be expanded to 150 trucks.
Israel’s military is responsible for anchoring the pier and no US soldiers will work ashore, according to Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.
US President Joe Biden announced plans for a temporary port or pier in early March.