The $230 million U.S. pier built off the coast of Gaza to bring humanitarian aid to Palestinians has been removed because of rough sea conditions, and the Pentagon is considering not returning it unless already stockpiled supplies can be shipped to those in need, according to reports.
The pier has helped move millions of tons of aid into Gaza, but much of it is still sitting in a storage yard that is already nearly filled to capacity because the aid agencies have been hampered in their deliveries as convoys come under Israeli attack, the Associated Press reported.
"If there's not enough room on the marshaling yard, then it doesn't make sense to put our men and women out there when there's nothing to move," Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said told reporters at a briefing on Friday.
"I don't want to give the impression that it's at capacity. It is certainly full, but we do need to see that marshaling yard open up to allow for aid groups to continue that distribution so that we can get more aid in as we get it from Cyprus," she said.
The United Nations has stopped distributing food and other supplies coming through the pier since June 9, the AP reported.
The pause arose over security concerns for aid workers after the Israeli military used an area near the pier to transport hostages after their rescue earlier this month in a raid that killed hundreds of Palestinians, the report said.
On Friday, U.N. World Food Program spokesman Steve Taravella said the organization's participation is suspended until security concerns are resolved.
The Pentagon said that since May 17, more than 19.4 million pounds of humanitarian aid has moved through the pier.
