More troops were hurt by Biden's Gaza pier than originally thought

[MIDDLE EAST] A Pentagon Inspector-General report, released on May 6, revealed that more than 60 U.S. service members were injured during the construction and maintenance of a floating aid pier in Gaza, a number far higher than previously reported. The injuries, which ranged from minor to severe, included fractures, concussions, and heat-related illnesses, according to military records reviewed by the Inspector-General. Many of these injuries occurred amid challenging sea conditions, underscoring the logistical difficulties of operating in a conflict zone with limited infrastructure.

The pier, which former President Joe Biden unveiled during a March 2024 televised address to Congress, was a significant undertaking, requiring approximately 1,000 U.S. service members to complete. However, bad weather and distribution challenges inside Gaza hampered the operation, limiting its effectiveness. The U.S. military has described the effort as its largest-ever aid delivery operation in the Middle East, but the pier was operational for only about 20 days, costing an estimated $230 million (S$296.94 million).

The project’s high price tag and short operational duration have sparked scrutiny among lawmakers, with some questioning whether land-based routes, blocked by Israeli restrictions, could have provided more aid with less risk to personnel. U.S. officials, however, defended the pier as a necessary stopgap while diplomatic efforts to open land crossings remained stalled.

Although no deaths or direct attacks on the pier were reported, the Pentagon confirmed that three U.S. troops were injured in May while supporting the pier’s operation, with one being medically evacuated in critical condition. However, the new report from the Inspector-General revealed that the actual number of injuries was 62.

"Based on the information provided, we were not able to determine which of these 62 injuries occurred during the performance of duties, or if they were due to off-duty activities or pre-existing conditions".

This discrepancy in reporting has raised questions about transparency and accountability in military operations. Congressional aides familiar with the issue indicated that the Pentagon initially classified some injuries as unrelated to the mission, only for subsequent reviews to confirm their connection to the pier’s operations.

The pier has become a contentious issue in Congress, with Republicans labeling it a political maneuver by President Biden, who faced pressure from fellow Democrats to increase aid to Palestinians following months of strong support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas.

Although the floating pier did provide much-needed aid to a staging area along Gaza’s coast, it had to be dismantled multiple times due to adverse weather conditions. The Inspector-General’s report criticized the U.S. military for failing to meet standards for equipment and for not properly organizing, training, and equipping personnel to meet established joint standards.

Despite these shortcomings, humanitarian organizations have acknowledged that the pier temporarily eased the strain on overland aid routes, which have been bottlenecked by Israeli inspections and security measures. The World Food Programme reported that nearly 8,000 metric tons of aid were delivered via the pier before it was dismantled—far short of Gaza’s overall needs, but still crucial for some communities.

The blockade on Gaza has sparked controversy, with the United Nations and Palestinian representatives at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of violating international law by refusing to allow aid into Gaza after cutting off all supplies to the 2.3 million residents of the enclave beginning on March 2. Israel has defended its blockade, claiming that Hamas is siphoning off aid meant for civilians and distributing it to its own forces—an accusation Hamas has denied.