The Pentagon said on Thursday that US military personnel attempted to reinstall the temporary pier on the Gaza beach on Wednesday, but they failed due to technical and weather-related problems.
Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said in a statement that American soldiers did not enter Gaza at any time. He added that operations on the pier would stop soon, and that its goal had always been to provide temporary solutions.
The White House and the Department of Defense said on Thursday that the pier would cease operations soon, but did not specify a timing for that.
Other US officials said that the Pentagon and the US Army's Central Command were seriously discussing an early end to pier operations due to weather conditions and some maintenance issues, which made the idea of reinstalling it for a short period undesirable.
The two officials said that a final decision had not been made yet, and they indicated that if the weather calms down a little, there is a weak chance that it will be reconnected for a short period.
The initial plan earlier this week was to reinstall the pier for several days to transport the last aid platforms to the beach and then remove it permanently, but the rough waves prevented re-installation.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington on Thursday: “I expect that in a relatively short time we will end dock operations.”
He added: "The real problem so far is not bringing aid into Gaza, but rather transporting it here and there inside Gaza."
On his part, Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman admitted in a statement that American forces “were unable to reinstall the pier on the beach” as planned this week, and that no date had been set for its re-installation.
He added, "The dock will stop its operations soon," but he did not specify a timetable for that.
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