The United States has a history of using its military to provide humanitarian relief to civilians during wars or natural disasters. The walls of the Pentagon showcase photographs of these operations in countries like Haiti, Liberia, Indonesia, and many others.
It is uncommon, however, for the United States to extend these services to people who are under attack with tacit U.S. support. President Biden’s recent decision to direct the U.S. military to construct a floating pier off the Gaza Strip to facilitate aid delivery by sea marks a new chapter in American humanitarian aid efforts.
While the U.S. continues to provide Israel with munitions for its operations in Gaza, it is also sending food and water to the besieged territory. The idea of a floating pier emerged after the authorization of humanitarian airdrops for Gaza, which were criticized as insufficient by relief experts.
The construction of the floating pier involves the Army’s Seventh Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. An Army ship, the General Frank S. Besson, has been dispatched from a base near Norfolk, carrying equipment for the dock and pier assembly off the Gaza coast.
The U.S. military plans to build a temporary causeway off the coast of Gaza to facilitate aid delivery. General Ryder emphasized that American troops will handle the construction without boots on the ground in Gaza, with the entire process estimated to take about 60 days and involve 1,000 personnel.
The floating pier will allow for the delivery of large quantities of aid to Gaza residents. While land routes are considered the most effective means of aid delivery, the U.S. aims to address the urgent situation in Gaza through a combination of airdrops and sea-based assistance.
Despite the challenges, the U.S. is committed to collaborating with regional partners and allies to establish a corridor for aid delivery to Gaza. The humanitarian efforts in Gaza, though a start, are seen as a small-scale response to a significant humanitarian crisis.
