President Joe Biden authorized the troubled Gaza pier operation despite warnings from officials about the challenges it would face. The operation, aimed at delivering humanitarian aid into Gaza, faced difficulties due to bad weather in the Mediterranean Sea and security issues in an active war zone. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) officials were concerned that focusing on the pier would distract from the more efficient method of using land crossings to deliver aid to Gaza.
The $230 million pier project faced several setbacks, only operating for 20 days over a two-month span and delivering a fraction of its intended aid. Instead of providing enough food for 500,000 Palestinians each month for three months, the pier only delivered enough food for 450,000 for a single month. Despite these challenges, during its operation, the pier managed to deliver 19.4 million pounds of aid to Gaza, according to Vice Adm. Brad Cooper.
President Biden expressed disappointment in the pier’s performance during a press conference in July, acknowledging that it had not lived up to expectations. The pier, known as Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS), faced technical issues early on, with the structure breaking apart in heavy seas shortly after starting operations. The Defense Department had planned for the pier to be operational for three months, but weather conditions in the Mediterranean Sea made it unsustainable earlier than anticipated.
The Gaza war marked the first time the Pentagon used the temporary pier for a humanitarian effort in an active war zone with significant security challenges. The crowded roads and constantly changing land routes made it difficult to operate the pier effectively. The US military communicated regularly with the Israeli military and the World Food Programme, which was responsible for distributing the aid once it arrived on the beach in Gaza.
Despite efforts to coordinate distribution plans, there were instances of aid convoys being looted, attacks on warehouses, and drivers being detained or shot. The planned distribution routes could quickly turn into evacuation zones based on Israeli military operations, leading to frequent changes in transportation plans. The Defense Department deployed over 1,000 US soldiers and sailors to support the operation, with three service members sustaining injuries during the mission.
The pier operation became a target of criticism from Republican members of Congress, with GOP Rep. Mike Rogers describing it as a gross waste of taxpayer dollars. Despite the setbacks and challenges faced during the operation, the US military remained committed to delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. The pier project highlighted the complexities of providing assistance in an active war zone with weather and security challenges. Moving forward, lessons learned from this operation could help improve future humanitarian efforts in similar environments.
