US floating pier in Gaza reopens for business
Following two weeks of mending, the US military's floating aid platform, situated offshore in Gaza, is now ready for reloading humanitarian supplies. This facility had been put to use for only seven days before it was damaged by strong winds and huge swells on May 25th. The damaged area was reconnected back to the Gaza shore on Friday, allowing the repair process to be finalized.
Approximately 492 tons of aid were delivered and loaded on Saturday, according to the US Central Command. The military emphasized that no American troops entered Gaza's land. Instead, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is teaming up with the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP) and its associates to distribute the goods that arrived via the pier in the Gaza Strip.
This event occurred on the same day that the Israeli military conducted a significant operation to free four Israeli hostages who had been held captive by the militant-Islamic group Hamas on October 7th. The health authorities controlled by Hamas in the Gaza Strip reported at least 210 Palestinians dead during the operation.
The US Central Command refuted the rumors circulating on social media that the Israeli operation, the pier, US equipment, or American personnel were linked in any way. Nonetheless, they admitted that Israel employed an area south of the pier to "safely return hostages." The military insists that the platform is solely utilized for loading urgently needed, life-saving supplies into the coastal region. USAID also verified that no personnel from any aid organization participated in the Israeli operation.
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Despite the ongoing tensions between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, the US military's floating aid platform in the Gaza Strip continues to serve its purpose, providing vital humanitarian supplies. However, it's crucial to note that the US military and its personnel are not involved in any conflict situations within Gaza, focusing solely on utility programs related to the distribution of aid.