The U.S. military is on schedule to build a pier off the Gaza coast to expand humanitarian aid deliveries, the Defense Department said Thursday, even as other agencies have pulled back after Israel killed several aid workers. The pier will be on line by the end of the month or early May, said Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.
Here’s the latest:
Quick Read
- Humanitarian Aid Expansion: The U.S. military is progressing with plans to construct a pier off the Gaza coast to enhance humanitarian aid deliveries, despite recent tensions.
- Completion Timeline: The pier is expected to be operational by the end of April or early May, according to Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary.
- Security Arrangements: Israel has committed to providing security for aid transfers on the shore, though specifics are still under discussion.
- Logistical Preparations: U.S. Army boats are currently in the Canary Islands for fueling and maintenance before heading to the Mediterranean, with the USNS Benavidez carrying larger equipment for the pier project.
- Biden-Netanyahu Discussion: President Biden emphasized to Prime Minister Netanyahu the importance of Israel taking measures to protect civilians and aid workers for continued U.S. support in Gaza.
- Aid Worker Casualties: Recent Israeli airstrikes mistakenly killed seven charity workers in Gaza, adding strain to U.S.-Israel relations but not halting U.S. military and diplomatic support.
- Casualty Toll: The conflict has resulted in over 33,000 Palestinian deaths, with women and children constituting a significant portion of the casualties.
- Humanitarian Crisis: Northern Gaza faces severe starvation threats, with international calls for a ceasefire amid concerns of genocide, which Israel denies.
- Conflict Overview: The war initiated on October 7 with a Hamas-led attack in southern Israel, resulting in substantial civilian casualties and hostages.
- Elders’ Appeal: The Elders, a group of former world leaders and U.N. officials founded by Nelson Mandela, have urged the U.S. and other nations to cease arms supplies to Israel, citing “systematic violations” of international law in Gaza.
- Call for Halt: They argue that continuing arms transfers, especially by the U.S., contradicts claims of adhering to international humanitarian law, given the ongoing offensive in Gaza.
- Concerns Over Humanitarian Access: The group criticizes Israel for hampering humanitarian aid and causing food shortages in Gaza, despite Israel’s assertion that it imposes no restrictions on aid entry.
- Impact on Aid Workers: The statement highlights the recent killing of seven aid workers by Israeli airstrikes, underscoring the challenges of delivering aid within Gaza due to restrictions and military actions.
- Civilian Casualties: Amidst Israel’s claims of compliance with international law, critics point to the use of indiscriminate force and the high civilian death toll, which Israel attributes to Hamas’ operations in populated areas.
The Associated Press has the story:
U.S. Military says plan to build pier for Gaza aid is still on schedule
Newslooks- WASHINGTON — (AP)
The U.S. military is on schedule to build a pier off the Gaza coast to expand humanitarian aid deliveries, the Defense Department said Thursday, even as other agencies have pulled back after Israel killed several aid workers.
The pier will be on line by the end of the month or early May, said Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.
“Everything is on track, on schedule at this point,” Ryder said. He said Israel has agreed to provide security on the shore as aid is transferred and distributed, but details are still being worked out.
On Thursday, several of the Army boats carrying soldiers and equipment for the pier construction were docked in the Canary Islands for fuel and maintenance and are expected to continue on into the Mediterranean Sea. And a ship operated by the Military Sealift Command, the USNS Benavidez is in the Mediterranean Sea, near Crete, carrying some of the larger equipment for the project.
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone Thursday, the White House said, with Biden saying future U.S. support for its war in Gaza depends on Israel taking new steps to protect civilians and aid workers.
Their conversation came days after Israeli airstrikes killed seven charity workers helping deliver food in Gaza. The killings, which Israel says were in error, have further complicated the two close allies’ increasingly strained relationship. Still, despite their differences, the Biden administration has continued to provide Israel crucial military aid and diplomatic support for Israel’s six-month war against Hamas.
The Palestinian death toll soared above 33,000 people on Thursday, with another 75,600 wounded, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. The ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.
The United Nations says much of the population in northern Gaza is on the brink of starvation. The top United Nations court has concluded there is a “plausible risk of genocide” in Gaza — a charge Israel strongly denies — and the U.N. Security Council has issued a legally binding demand for a cease-fire.
The war began on Oct. 7, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.
GROUP OF GLOBAL STATESMEN CALL FOR COUNTRIES TO STOP ARMING ISRAEL
JERUSALEM — A group of elder statesmen called on the U.S. and other nations to stop providing arms to Israel, saying Thursday the country is committing “systematic violations” of international law in its offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The group, which calls itself the Elders and was founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, said a halt in weapons transfers was needed to prevent a planned Israeli assault on Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah. The group includes former world leaders and former high-ranking U.N. officials.
“Countries providing arms to Israel cannot legitimately claim that violations of international humanitarian law are not taking place, or that they supplied arms without this knowledge,” it said in a statement.
It said the United States, Israel’s closest ally, should lead the charge, adding, “We are deeply concerned that the Biden administration continues to approve arms transfers, appearing to accept Israel’s assurances” that it is complying with international law.
In a statement, the group said Israel was unlawfully obstructing humanitarian aid and causing hunger in Gaza.
Israel says it has waged its offensive in Gaza in accordance with international law and that it places no limit on the amount of food and other supplies entering the territory.
However, it has allowed entry of aid to only through two main crossings, and aid groups say it has become nearly impossible to distribute aid inside Gaza because of Israeli restrictions and airstrikes. On Monday, Israeli airstrikes killed seven aid workers in a convoy returning from distributing food in northern Gaza.
Critics also say Israel’s bombardment and ground assaults in Gaza use indiscriminate fire with little regard for civilian casualties. Israel’s offensive, launched in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants, has now killed over 33,000 Palestinians. Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames their deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in dense, residential areas.
Currently:
— Family and friends recall dedication of World Central Kitchen aid workers killed in Gaza.
— U.S. braces for retaliation after attack on Iran consulate — even as it says it wasn’t involved.
— Rights group says Israeli strike on Gaza building killed 106 in apparent war crime.
— Diplomatic crisis between Poland and Israel erupts after Polish aid worker killed in Gaza.
— Senior U.K. jurists have joined calls to stop arms sales to Israel . Other allies face similar pressure.
— Jewish group launches Holocaust survivor speakers bureau to fight increasing antisemitism worldwide.
— Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
