The U.S.-built temporary pier in Gaza underwent serious repairs within weeks of becoming operational, only to again get disconnected from the shore due to stormy weather. But Democrats in Congress say few alternatives are available to get more much-needed aid to the region.
“The international community is not getting enough humanitarian assistance into Gaza,” Sen. Ben Cardin, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, told NOTUS. “The pier is another option, to get humanitarian assistance in, we need all of the above. We need every one of them. Because we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
The temporary pier, operated by the Department of Defense, suffered another setback this week because of higher-than-expected seas. It’s the second time recently the pier has struggled to survive the Mediterranean Sea; within four weeks of initial operation, the pier had to be shut down and removed for repairs. It began offloading aid deliveries again last weekend.