Humanitarian aid for Gaza collected in Cyprus is being loaded onto ships for delivery once a temporary pier in Israel is repaired. The United States is also working to recover two grounded vessels near the damaged pier. Repair efforts are underway, and the U.S. remains committed to ensuring aid reaches Gaza as soon as possible.
The Pentagon is committed to delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza despite damage to the temporary pier off the coast. The Israeli Defense Forces are clearing the pier for repairs, expected to take over a week. The damaged pieces have been transported to Ashdod port for reconstruction. The cause of the damage was a recent storm from North Africa, but calmer seas are expected. Efforts are being made to find alternative routes for aid from Cyprus to reach Gaza. Over 1,000 metric tons of aid had been delivered prior to the damage.
The United Nations has reported a significant drop in humanitarian aid entering Gaza since Israel began its military operation in the region. The daily average of aid trucks reaching Gaza dropped by 67%, with only 58 trucks reaching the area from May 7 to Tuesday. Israel has stated that it is committed to facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza despite ongoing conflict with Hamas.
Cyprus is playing a significant role in coordinating international efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The United States is involved in creating a maritime humanitarian corridor to Gaza, with the construction of a temporary pier for aid transfer. Cyprus is facilitating the use of its port facilities and leading coordination efforts with various countries, including the US, the UK, the EU, and the United Arab Emirates. The European Union is actively participating in the corridor, with discussions ongoing to increase overall assistance. The construction of a pier on the Gaza coast will enable the mass transfer of aid to Palestinians in Gaza, emphasizing that the aid will be transported through sea, land, and air routes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus is collaborating with the US and the UK to increase humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza in line with the 2720 UN Mechanism. The aid is being sent via the Cyprus maritime corridor to the JLOTS pier off the coast of Gaza. US Central Command personnel established a temporary landing site on Gaza beach to deliver additional aid, with trucks expected to start moving overland soon. The United Nations will receive and coordinate the distribution of the aid in Gaza.
A US-built floating pier in Gaza will be completed soon to help with humanitarian aid shipments from Cyprus. The pier will make it easier to unload aid from ships and transfer it directly to trucks for distribution on land. The route between Cyprus and Gaza is important for delivering international aid.
The US military has completed over 50% of the construction of a temporary artificial port in Gaza to help deliver humanitarian aid, costing around 0 million. The port is expected to be operational soon, but it will not replace aid deliveries through land routes. US officials are working to address the food insecurity faced by the 2.4 million people in Gaza, following a deadly conflict between Hamas and Israel.
A humanitarian aid flotilla destined for Gaza was halted after Guinea Bissau removed its flag from two vessels, as the activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition stated. The flotilla, organized by the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation, aimed to deliver aid directly to Gaza. Israel’s assault on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 34,700 Palestinians, while UN experts demanded safe passage for the flotilla and adherence to international law.
Relief for aid-stricken Palestinians in the Gaza strip could reach about 1,500 tonnes a week once a U.S.-built jetty is operational, with international donors coming forward to finance the infrastructure, including a million donation from the United Arab Emirates to the Amaltheia Fund.
Aid shipments to Gaza from Cyprus are expected to resume soon following a pause in the project due to the killing of seven aid workers by Israel. The U.S. plans to set up a dock in Gaza for pre-screened aid deliveries with Israeli oversight. The devastated Palestinian enclave faces famine and disease after six months of conflict. The aid stored in Cyprus will be held until World Central Kitchen decides on next steps.