Gaza war: US military ends floating aid pier mission

When the pier began operating in mid-May, US officials suggested it would remain in place until August or September.

But after stormy weather in late May, four landing craft involved in the operation broke loose and were washed ashore. Parts of the pier also had to be taken to Ashdod for repairs.

The whole structure had to be moved to Ashdod three more times over the next month because of bad weather and maintenance before the US military decided to end the mission.

The US was also forced to deny what it said were fake social media reports that Israel had used the pier for a hostage rescue mission in central Gaza on 8 June.

However, resulting security concerns led the UN World Food Programme to stop collecting aid from the holding area next to the pier, leading to thousands of pallets of supplies building up. Eventually, contractors were hired to move the aid to warehouses so it would not spoil.

Last week, US President Joe Biden expressed disappointment with the pier mission, saying: “I was hopeful that would be more successful.”

Mr Biden announced that the pier would be constructed in March, in response to a UN-backed assessment which warned that famine was “imminent” in northern Gaza.

The latest assessment, from the end of June, said the available evidence did not indicate a famine was occurring there, citing an increase in the amount of food and other aid allowed in.

However, it warned that 495,000 people across Gaza were still facing “catastrophic levels” of hunger and that a “high risk” of famine would persist as long as the war between Israel and Hamas continued and humanitarian access was restricted.

UN officials blame the situation on Israeli military restrictions on aid deliveries, the continuing hostilities and the breakdown of law and order.

Israel insists that there are no limits to the amount of aid that can be delivered into and across Gaza and blames UN agencies for failing to distribute supplies. It also accuses Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies.