In the heart of Jerusalem and beyond, the wheels of progress are turning as a new port in Gaza, along with a U.S. military-constructed offshore pier, begin to take shape. However, the path to the resolution of the humanitarian crisis simmers beneath a sheen of uncertainty. There are questions about security, the logistics of initiating the delivery of food supplies, and the overall safety of those involved in the operation.
This ambitious project, a creation of Israel, has already suffered setbacks, most notably a mortar attack causing the displacement of U.N. officials that were present at the site in the past week. Furthermore, deliberations persist as the calendar that dictates the initiation of aid deliveries remains undetermined.
A glance at recent satellite images reveals substantial construction progress by the seaside, close to Gaza City. However, aid groups indicate acute concern over not just their own safety, but the security processes that the Israeli forces would put in place.
Sonali Korde, an authority from the U.S. Agency for International Development, voiced the ongoing negotiations surrounding the agreement terms for the security procedures and the facilitation of the aid deliverables. These terms also cover the role and activities of Israeli forces within Gaza, ensuring the welfare and safety of the aid workers.
“There’s a pressing need to see these terms actualized,” Korde stated. “In the interest of aid delivery, discussions need to continue between the humanitarian community and the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces), resulting in a safer environment for all involved.”
Expectations are high from American officials, with anticipated aid delivery via the newly-built pier and port from early May onwards. A senior U.S. military official, wishing to stay unnamed, revealed that the initial cargo would include approximately 90 trucks, gradually increasing to around 150 trucks per day.
Nevertheless, the circumstances surrounding the final placement of the U.S.-made causeway onto the beach of Gaza will be heavily influenced by the security climate, a topic of daily review. The same official has affirmed the dedication of an entire brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces, supplemented by ships and aircraft, for securing the flow of aid supplies.
Querying about the recent mortar attack, the official hinted at an unrelated cause behind the incident but assured tighter security measures around the port once the supplies start arriving.
Also, meticulous steps have been taken to safeguard U.S. troops posted on the pier and the floating station that lies a few miles off the coast. Ensuring troop safety has required rehearsals of offensive and defensive tactics.
An unfortunate incident on April 1 that resulted in casualties of seven World Central Kitchen aid contributors, killed in an Israeli airstrike, has been a brutal reminder of the potential dangers involved. This incident has intensified a general sentiment among aid groups for a more determined approach to compel Israel to expedite aid delivery via land-based routes.
The bereaved World Central Kitchen personnel and the memorial service that followed in Washington form just one chapter in the increasingly poignant narrative of Gaza. The death toll of aid workers in Gaza has reached a staggering number of 200, a sorrowful figure triple of the highest count of aid worker deaths in any previous war in a single year, as per U.N. records.
Israel faces an escalating wave of global criticism due to the restricted inflow of aid into the Palestinian terrain. United Nations estimates that a quarter of the local populace teeters precariously close to starvation.
This is the plan for the new sea route:
Trucks will transport and load pallets of aid onto commercial-grade vessels stationed in Cyprus and sail approximately 200 miles to the large floating platform, a U.S. military creation.
The pallet-carrying trucks will be taken by smaller Army vessels to the causeway—about 1,800 feet (or 550 meters) long—attached to the shoreline by the Israeli military.
Finally, these trucks traverse the causeway to a secure drop-off point where the aid will be disbursed to aid agencies, a process that might span several months according to the U.S. military official.
A U.N. representative explained that the port would likely be segmented into three zones—one controlled by Israelis, and two others designated for aid transfer and pickup by Palestinian drivers employed by the U.N. before distribution.
Pictures captured by a satellite and scrutinized by The Associated Press reveal brisk progress in the port construction over the past two weeks. Overseen by the U.S. Navy and Army, the creation of the port’s pier, or floating platform, has also begun.
The port occupies an area southwest to Gaza City, situated on the upper side of the road that Israel built and used during the conflict. Previously, this region was the most populated part of the territory, housing over a million inhabitants. They relocated to Rafah town, closer to the Egyptian frontier due to an Israeli ground offensive.
Hamas poses a significant threat, voiced most recently by Khalil al-Hayya, a high-ranking political official of the organization. He warned that the presence of non-Palestinians in Gaza would not be tolerated and any attempt by Israeli forces to secure the pier would be met with resistance. The recent mortar attack which forced evacuation of onsite U.N. officials underlines the challenges. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, there were no reported casualties or injuries.
According to Carl Skau, WFP’s deputy executive director, “It’s necessary for us to be able to operate, reach communities, have access to needs, and do so in a safe and secure way.” He also emphasized the equally essential requirement of fortifying sustainable land-based aid deliveries to counter a potential famine.
However, some points of contention remain regarding how the Israelis would manage the site’s security. IDF reportedly seeks the installation of remote-controlled gun positions which the U.N. strongly contradicted due to an unclear description of the weaponry.
In their statement on Thursday, the IDF pledged to extend security and logistical aid for the initiative, which includes construction of the dock and aid transfer from the sea to the Gaza Strip.
Considering the limitations encountered in transporting supplies to Gaza via the land routes, the establishment of the port assumes urgent importance. Several attempts to evacuate aid by sea have been made unsuccessfully due to the World Central Kitchen incident. More desperate measures, such as airdropping supplies from aircrafts have been attempted, despite their limited efficacy in supplying a high volume of aid and high risk of causing accidents.
The widespread coverage of JLOTS or Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore, as expressed by Bob Kitchen, Vice President for Emergencies with the International Rescue Committee, draws focus from alternative, large-scale, and cost-effective delivery channels. “These measures, as necessary as they are, are secondary to the main problem—the crisis faced by the people of Gaza and the provision of aid via land routes,” Kitchen explained. It is a distraction and concern that has bee rightfully echoed by U.N. efforts.
