US floating Gaza pier dismantled again for raging seas: CENTCOM

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday that the floating pier the United States constructed off the coast of Gaza was temporarily dismantled for a second time, because high winds were causing rough seas.

The pier, which was first constructed on May 17, was temporarily damaged by rough waves last month, which caused it to break apart. It was repaired and reopened last week. This time, CENTCOM said it towed the pier to Israel for safety, and officials will quickly re-anchor the pier when the weather has improved. 

"The decision to temporarily relocate the pier is not made lightly but is necessary to ensure the temporary pier can continue to deliver aid in the future," the agency said in a statement, CBS News reported.

Defense officials said the pier is expected to transport approximately 90 trucks of humanitarian aid to Gaza each day, and will be able to carry up to 150 truck loads of aid at its peak. Approximately 7.7 million pounds of various humanitarian aid have been delivered to Gaza through the pier so far, including food and water. The project cost an estimated $320 million to construct, according to the Pentagon.

The operation was first announced in President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, when he vowed that no American service member would fight in the war between Israel and Hamas. Biden has kept this promise, but approximately 1,000 service members have been assigned to help with the aid and the pier.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the aid is being held at a staging area on shore for now, according to the Washington Post.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.