Current:Home > ScamsU.S. decides to permanently dismantle pier helping deliver aid into Gaza, official says-InfoLens
U.S. decides to permanently dismantle pier helping deliver aid into Gaza, official says
View Date:2024-12-23 10:33:17
The United States has decided to permanently dismantle the Gaza pier, a U.S. official told CBS News.
The pier is currently in port in Ashdod, Israel, and will not be reattached to the shore in Gaza, according to this official, who said "the mission is over." The decision follows a recommendation by the U.S. Central Command not to reinstall the pier. CBS News learned of the military's recommendation Tuesday from two U.S. officials.
Bedeviled by bad weather and mechanical malfunctions, the Gaza pier has been in operation for only about 20 days since it was installed in May. In those 20 days, it has managed to deliver nearly 20 million pounds of aid.
The Pentagon had already announced that the pier would soon cease operations, although there was a chance that it would be installed one final time to deliver the remaining aid supplies from Cyprus.
"The pier has always been intended as a temporary solution, and it will conclude its mission soon, but as of today, I don't have any announcements to make in terms of when the mission will officially conclude," Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said Tuesday.
The Pentagon has not announced a final decision, but commanders in charge of the operation have now recommended pulling the plug.
President Biden previewed the temporary maritime corridor to help deliver aid to Gaza in his State of the Union address in March. The pier was part of the administration's effort to supplement the amount of aid reaching Palestinians by trucks via road and by air drops.
The plan called for about 1,000 U.S. forces to construct and operate the maritime corridor without stepping foot in Gaza. Since the beginning of the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel, Mr. Biden has said that no U.S. boots would enter Gaza.
The corridor is made up of a floating dock out in the eastern Mediterranean where ships bring aid from Cyprus that is then transferred to U.S. military support vessels. The vessels then transport the aid to the pier attached to the shore for trucks to drive into Gaza.
The Defense Department never set a timeline for how long the temporary pier would be in place, but officials said weather has historically been hospitable between May and August.
However, rough weather delayed the initial installment of the pier, and then in late May, broke pieces of it that were quickly repaired. Since then, the U.S. military has detached the pier and placed it at the Port of Ashdod several times to wait out choppy seas.
Last Thursday, Mr. Biden in a press conference said he was disappointed with the corridor.
"I've been disappointed that some of the things that I've put forward have not succeeded as well, like the port we attached from Cyprus. I was hopeful that would be more successful," Biden said.
The Defense Department estimated constructing and operating the pier would cost $230 million.
- In:
- Hamas
- Israel
- Gaza Strip
David Martin has been CBS News' national security correspondent, covering the Pentagon and the State Department, since 1993.
TwitterveryGood! (31)
Related
- Watch as dust storm that caused 20-car pileup whips through central California
- Warner Bros. pledges massive Nevada expansion if lawmakers expand film tax credit
- North Carolina elections board OKs university ID on phones for voter access this fall
- Cardi B Shares Painful Effects of Pregnancy With Baby No. 3
- Stock market today: Asian shares mostly decline, shrugging off Wall Street’s overnight rally
- Heat dome moves into Texas with record highs expected
- 3 people charged after death of federal prison worker who opened fentanyl-laced mail
- Beloved 80-year-old dog walker killed in carjacking while defending her dogs
- New York races to revive Manhattan tolls intended to fight traffic before Trump can block them
- Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck after 2 years of marriage
Ranking
- Sister Wives’ Christine Brown Shares Glimpse Into Honeymoon One Year After Marrying David Woolley
- Elite prosecutor misused position by offering Justice Department card in DUI stop, watchdog finds
- Canada’s two major freight railroads may stop Thursday if contract dispute isn’t resolved
- How Alex Cooper Knew Husband Matt Kaplan Was The One Amid Emotional Health Journey
- Paraguay vs. Argentina live updates: Watch Messi play World Cup qualifying match tonight
- Remains found on Michigan property confirmed to be from woman missing since 2021
- 'Beyond excited': Alex Cooper's 'Call Her Daddy' podcast inks major deal with SiriusXM
- Maine mass shooting report says Army, law enforcement missed chances to avert attacks
Recommendation
-
Judge moves to slash $38 million verdict in New Hampshire youth center abuse case
-
48 hours with Usher: Concert preparation, family time and what's next for the R&B icon
-
Utah lawmakers want voters to give them the power to change ballot measures once they’ve passed
-
Former assistant dean of Texas college accused of shaking, striking infant son to death
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Something Corporate
-
Lily Collins Shares Insight Into Bond With Kickass Sandra Bullock
-
The Meaning Behind the Date Jennifer Lopez Filed for Divorce From Ben Affleck
-
From NASA and the White House, to JLo and Kim Kardashian, everyone is getting very demure