US President Joe Biden continued with his plans for a problematic aid pier in Gaza, despite receiving internal warnings, according to a watchdog report. The White House defended the operation on Wednesday, describing it as a "comprehensive response" to a humanitarian crisis. Biden expressed dissatisfaction with the pier's performance, which was managed by the US military and had to be frequently removed from the shore due to adverse weather conditions.
The watchdog for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) revealed in a report released on Tuesday that there were numerous warnings about the rough seas and security issues prior to Biden's decision to deploy the unreliable pontoon. The report stated that "Multiple USAID staff expressed concerns" that the pier would divert attention from urging Israel to open land crossings, which is considered a more effective and reliable method for delivering aid to Gaza.
The White House emphasized on Wednesday that the pier was "part of a comprehensive response to dire conditions alongside air and land deliveries." The pier successfully delivered nearly 20 million pounds of food and water, significantly improving conditions in northern Gaza amid warnings of an impending famine, according to National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett. He also expressed gratitude to the US military personnel who built and maintained the pier.
Biden had announced the project during his State of the Union address in March, when Israel was delaying land deliveries of aid. However, the USAID report indicated that the pier's issues meant it did not fully achieve its goal of providing enough aid for half a million Palestinians for three months, managing only to feed 450,000 for one month. The pier was operational for only 20 days during the two months before it was decommissioned, the report noted.
The report highlighted that from the beginning, severe weather was a significant challenge, with the pier being detached or shut down multiple times. Pentagon guidance from an initial planning meeting stated that the pier was only suitable for use in short or moderate waves, but the Mediterranean frequently experiences significant winds and waves, according to the watchdog. Security concerns in a war zone where Israel was targeting Hamas following the October 7 attacks significantly affected aid delivery through the pier, the report added.
