The US military has begun helping to build a temporary port off the coast of the Gaza Strip through which more humanitarian aid can be delivered aid, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
U.S. warships are involved in the construction of the facility, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told reporters. "I think the indications now are realistic for early May," he said in response to a question about the date the port is expected to be ready.
Meanwhile, the work of the international community continues to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza through other routes, Ryder pointed out.
Washington said early last month that the US military plans to help build a temporary port through which food, water and medicine can be delivered to Gaza's war zones in view of the humanitarian emergency. The plan calls for the construction of a floating jetty off the coast where merchant ships loaded with aid can dock. The aid will then be transferred to support vessels and transported to a specially designed docking site, from where it will be delivered to Gazans by truck.
According to Israeli data, unknown assailants fired mortars at the temporary port during a visit by UN officials. Palestinian Islamist militants are suspected. Ryder said there were reports of several projectiles being fired at the site, but said it did not affect construction plans and occurred before the U.S. military began work.
The Pentagon spokesman clarified again that there are no plans for US forces to enter the Gaza Strip itself, which has been under siege by the Israeli army for months after a terrorist attack by Palestinian Islamist militants against southern Israel on October 7.