(PatriotsUnited.org) – The Biden administration’s $230 million aid pier set up in the war-torn Gaza Strip could be permanently shut down by July after months of operational failures.
The temporary dock, built by the U.S. military on short notice, was designed to facilitate the swift delivery of humanitarian aid. However, its effectiveness has been severely hampered. Aid organizations report that the pier has only been operational for about 10 days out of the month since it was installed, with the remainder of the time spent on repairs or idle due to security concerns.
Initially expected to operate through September, the pier might now be dismantled as early as July due to ongoing issues. From the outset, the pier faced numerous challenges. Heavy seas, though not extraordinarily rough, caused significant damage, forcing the pier to be towed away for repairs almost immediately after its construction. Military officials had initially predicted that the pier would withstand level three sea state conditions, but the Mediterranean’s level four conditions proved too much for the structure.
“Supplies from the pier aren’t flowing to Palestinians, and never really have,” said Stephen Semler, a national security expert at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. In his recent essay, Semler noted, “The reality is that the [pier] is not working, at least not for Palestinians.”
The pier’s obvious inability to function as intended has led to severe criticism from various quarters. Notably, much of the aid that managed to get ashore was quickly seized by Hamas, leaving little to no assistance for the civilian population in need. This outcome has amplified the perception of the project as a foreign policy debacle for President Biden.
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby has been unable to provide clear answers regarding the future of the pier, further fueling concerns about the project’s viability and the administration’s handling of the situation. Officials now warn that the structure could be dismantled as early as July, months ahead of its initially planned decommissioning date.
Copyright 2024, PatriotsUnited.org