The director of the U.N. World Food Program says the program has “paused” its distribution of humanitarian aid from an American-built pier off Gaza out of concern for the safety of its workers.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The director of the U.N. World Food Program said Sunday the program has “paused” its distribution of humanitarian aid from an American-built pier off Gaza, saying she was “concerned about the safety of our people” after what had been one of the deadliest days of the war there.

Saturday saw both an Israeli military assault that freed four hostages but left 274 Palestinians and one Israeli commando dead, and, Cindy McCain said, two of WFP’s warehouses in Gaza had been “rocketed” and a staffer injured.

Sunday’s U.N. announcement of the pause appears the latest setback for the U.S. sea route, set up to try to bring more aid to Gaza’s starving people.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
    144·
    5 months ago

    Completed in mid-May, the U.S. pier was operational for only about a week before being knocked offline by storm damage for two weeks. After repairs, it returned to operation again Saturday, bringing in 1.1 million pounds (492 metric tons) of food and other aid, before McCain said her agency was pausing its humanitarian work there.

    Israel also blew up two nearby warehouses were food was kept.

    And used this area as a landing zone…

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-support-israeli-forces-rescue-hostages-gaza/

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
        64·
        5 months ago

        No, it says the pier wasn’t used just right next to it…

        Video circulating online Saturday shows an IDF helicopter taking off from the beach with the U.S. pier in the backdrop. Two U.S. officials told CBS News that the U.S. pier was not used in the IDF operation. It is offshore to assist delivery of humanitarian aid. A U.S. official explained that the helicopter landed south of the facility on a beach but not within the cordoned area of the pier.

        Which is why I said “this area” and not “the pier”

        But honestly, it should be pretty clear what I’m talking about about. The article is about the warehouses next to the pier, they’re also not actually on the pier. So I don’t know how anyone would think “this area” means literally and only on this tiny tiny pier that’s been used for civilian aid for like what? 2 weeks total?

        It might have been longer but Israel pulled this shit almost as soon as it opened, and I’m sure you’re about to tell us how that’s a total coincidence…