US Army vessels supporting Gaza aid pier washed away in heavy seas: CENTCOM

Four US Army vessels which were supporting the temporary pier built by the United States to deliver aid to Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, have been swept away due to heavy seas, said the US Central Command (CENTCOM), on Saturday (May 25).

What happened to US Army vessels?

In a statement, the CENTCOM said during the transportation of humanitarian aid, the floating deck disconnected from the small boat tugging it and that the vessels broke free from their moorings.

“The vessels broke free from their moorings and two vessels are now anchored on the beach near the pier. The third and fourth vessels are beached on the coast of Israel near Ashkelon,” said CENTCOM.

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It added, “No US personnel will enter Gaza. No injuries have been reported and the pier remains fully functional.” The US forces also said that the Israeli navy is assisting with recovering the vessels.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon, according to Al Jazeera, stressed that the pier remained fully functional and also emphasised that throughout this operation of retrieving US Army vessels, American personnel would not enter Gaza.

In March, US President Joe Biden had said that the pier would be built to alleviate restrictions imposed by Israel on aid delivery by land to Palestinians in Gaza amid criticism that this is a costly alternative to asking Israel to open all land crossings to the Palestinian enclave.

Millions of Gazans have been deprived of most clean water, food, medicines and fuel due to Israel’s ongoing siege on the Palestinian enclave.

The construction of the $320 million pier which also involved 1,000 US service members was completed earlier this month to provide aid to the Gaza Strip.

As of Friday (May 24), the CENTCOM said 1,005 metric tons of aid had been delivered from the sea to the beach transfer point with 903 metric tons distributed from the transfer point to the United Nations warehouse.

The UN World Food Programme “took possession of 97 trucks since the floating dock came into operation” on May 17 Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres, told reporters on Friday.

At least 10 killed in drone attack on Gaza school

On the other hand, at least 10 people, including children, have been killed after a drone strike hit the school they were sheltering in, reported CNN citing local health workers, on Saturday.

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People had reportedly been sheltering in Al-Nazla school in Saftawy, on the outskirts of northern Gaza’s Jabalia.

An eyewitness told CNN that his son-in-law was being treated for injuries.

He also said that a man who was “making bread for his children, thinking this was a safe space” was killed along with his daughter and son.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.

(With inputs from agencies)