An inside look at the Gaza maritime pier being built by the IDF and US military

The IDF published an announcement on Saturday regarding the progress of preparatory work for the reception of a "maritime pier for humanitarian aid in Gaza," following the Pentagon's announcement on Thursday that the U.S. military had begun work on the construction of the pier. Both the IDF and the U.S. government are careful not to comment on the new pier as a port, but a political source told Calcalist last month that it is possible the temporary pier will later become permanent.

The Pentagon's briefing on Thursday stated that the pier should start operating at the beginning of May, and in the first stage, it will allow the transportation of goods in the amount of about 90 trucks a day, later potentially increasing to 150 trucks a day. This implies that even after the opening of the terminal, the primary goods route to Gaza will be the land route, through which hundreds of trucks currently pass following international pressure created due to reports of a humanitarian crisis and famine in Gaza.

According to the IDF spokesperson, the area of the pier project will cover approximately 67 acres designated for operational purposes and the transit of goods. The work on the reception of the pier has been carried out in recent weeks by the Engineering and Construction Division within the Defense Ministry, led by the IDF Southern Command, the engineering array, COGAT, accompanied by logistical coverage of the Technological and Logistics Directorate, and in cooperation with the U.S. Military. The floating pier itself will be built by the Americans. An Israeli military brigade, which includes thousands of soldiers, along with Israeli Navy ships and Air Force would work to protect U.S. troops who are setting up the pier.

President Joe Biden announced the pier in March as aid officials implored Israel to ease access for relief supplies into Gaza over land routes.

A senior Biden administration official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said humanitarian aid coming off the pier will need to pass through Israeli checkpoints on land. That is despite the aid having already been inspected by Israel in Cyprus prior to being shipped to Gaza. Israel wants to prevent any aid getting to Hamas fighters that boosts their war effort.

"I can confirm that U.S. military vessels, to include the USNS Benavidez, have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea," Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters.

A U.S. official added that about 1,000 U.S. troops would support the military effort, including in coordination cells in Cyprus and Israel.

A third party will be driving trucks down the pier onto the beach, the official added.

Ryder said the Pentagon was tracking some type of mortar attack in Gaza that caused minimal damage in the marshaling area for the pier. But he added that U.S. forces had not started moving anything to that area yet and there were no U.S. forces on the ground.