Israel-Hamas war: 'US preparing to temporarily remove Gaza pier due to...'

The United States (US) military is preparing totemporarily remove its humanitarian pier Tridentoff the coast of Gazadue to anticipatedsea conditions, the news agency Reuters reported early Saturday (June 15) citing an official. The US military's pier had just resumed bringing humanitarian aid into the enclave after being suspended over the weekend.

The official, who chose to remain anonymous, told Reutersthat the pier would likely be moved to the Israeli port of Ashdod until sea conditions improve.

Aid had begunarriving via the pier on May 17, and the United Nations (UN) saidit transported 137 trucks of aid to warehouses, some 900 metric tons before the USannounced on May 28 that it had suspended operations so repairs could be made.

'Still not resumed transportation of aid'

On Friday, the UN saidit had still not resumed transportation of aid from the pier to its World Food Programme warehouses."Our security colleagues are still working to ensure that secure conditions for humanitarian work can be re-established," UN spokespersonFarhan Haq told the news agency.

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High seas disrupted aid deliveries for two days starting last weekend, but thepierdid not have to be detached from the coast in that case, and they resumed on Tuesday.

US promises $400 million in new aid

Earlier this week, the USpromised more than $400 million in new aid for the Palestinians at an emergency summit in Jordan.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised $404 millionfor food, drinking water, health supplies, and other aid to the Palestinians.

Blinken calledon countries to press Hamas to accept the ceasefire proposal laid out on May 31 by President Joe Biden, saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured him of support.

(With inputs from agencies)