The U.S. military-built pier off the coast of Gaza will be up and running as early as this weekend, and aid is expected to begin flowing into the enclave soon afterward, according to a U.S. official and a European official.
Officials are expected to make a decision on allowing the project to begin operations by Friday, meaning aid could begin flowing to Palestinians as early as Saturday or Sunday, said the U.S. official. However, that timeline could be delayed by environmental factors such as weather or logistical issues, the official cautioned.
Both officials were granted anonymity to discuss dates before they are announced.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said Wednesday that the pier is more than 50 percent complete, but didn’t give a specific date for operations, saying it will be ready to deliver aid into Gaza by early May.
The establishment of the new aid route more directly involves the United States in the war between Israel and Hamas, as it puts American forces off the coast of Gaza to help deliver food, water, medicine and other assistance. The Biden administration has repeatedly said U.S. troops would not step foot inside Gaza, but would instead remain just offshore to ensure the pier can remain safe and continue to function.
The project is a complex one. U.S. military personnel are building the pier a few miles offshore along with a floating causeway that will be anchored to the beach. Commercial ships will first deliver aid to the pier, where the food and supplies will be loaded onto smaller boats operated by the U.S. military, and transported to the causeway. Once there, aid workers from the United Nations will offload, organize and distribute the shipments.
The Israel Defense Forces are providing security for the project. The mission is a dangerous one, as U.S. personnel could come under fire from Hamas or other militants, or sustain accidental damage from Israeli airstrikes. Just last week, Gaza-based militants launched mortar rounds at the marshalling area on shore where U.N. workers plan to organize and distribute the aid.