U.S. Department of Defense: Aid Operations Resumed from Temporary Dock in Gaza

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, announced that over 656 metric tons, or 1.4 million pounds, of aid were delivered through the dock constructed by the U.S. in Gaza, just hours after aid operations resumed on Thursday, June 21. According to the U.S. Department of Defense website, Pat Ryder stated that this dock has been anchored again off the coast of Gaza since Wednesday. It was previously reported that this temporary dock was moved to Ashdod, Israel due to bad weather conditions. Aid groups say that this dock has reduced pressure on Israel to open more land border crossings, which they claim are much more effective for delivering aid. The U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson also mentioned that since the opening of this temporary dock about five weeks ago, on May 17, more than 4,100 tons or 9.1 million pounds of food and aid have been delivered by sea and unloaded in Gaza. The temporary floating dock in Gaza, constructed under the orders of President Joe Biden and assembled by the U.S. Army on May 17, was temporarily moved to Ashdod, Israel, due to storm damage just a few days after its installation. After repairs, it was successfully re-established at the connection point in Gaza on June 7. Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the U.S. has been tirelessly delivering humanitarian aid and addressing the basic needs of the civilian population in Gaza through various land, air, and sea routes in cooperation with its international partners. The Mediterranean became stormy; the U.S. Army temporarily moved the aid dock from Gaza to Ashdod. The World Food Program of the United Nations halted the distribution of humanitarian aid through the floating dock. The Israeli army is reinforcing its forces to secure the aid dock to Gaza.