President Biden moved forward with a $230 million pier project aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, despite multiple warnings from federal aid workers about potential issues. According to an internal report, the project, which was intended to provide relief to the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave, ultimately delivered less than a third of the intended assistance.
Biden, 81, announced the pier plan during his March 7 State of the Union address, emphasizing that it would help feed an estimated 1.5 million Palestinians over a three-month period. However, due to “rough weather and high seas,” the pier operated for only 20 days, delivering aid to just 450,000 people before it was decommissioned on July 17, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report.
Not only did the pier fail to meet its goals, but three service members were injured during the operations. Amid pressure from far-left Democrats urging Biden to halt support for Israel’s actions against Hamas, the president promoted the pier as a solution to address humanitarian concerns in Gaza. “This temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day,” Biden assured lawmakers.
However, the OIG report revealed that multiple USAID staff members were concerned that the focus on the pier would detract from advocating for land crossings, which they considered more efficient. Despite these concerns, the directive from the president led the agency to focus on the pier as effectively as possible.
The report also highlighted the lack of planning prior to Biden’s announcement, with USAID taking 20 days to formally request assistance from the Pentagon. The Defense Department, while experienced in such operations, had never executed one in the “non-permissive environment” of an active combat zone like Gaza.
Even the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) expressed reservations about the plan, warning of significant safety risks and potential community resistance. The WFP’s concerns proved valid, as the report documented instances of looting, attacks on warehouses, and security risks that hindered aid distribution.
Weather conditions further complicated the operation, with rough seas and high winds making consistent operations nearly impossible. Overcrowded roads and limited safe routes also posed challenges, leading to multiple instances of looted aid trucks.
Despite the investment, the OIG concluded that the operation “fell short” of the president’s promises. The report did not directly blame Biden but cited the challenges of operating in a conflict zone, compounded by weather, security, and access issues.
Meanwhile, USAID warned that nearly 1.9 million displaced Palestinians continue to face “unsanitary, overcrowded conditions” and acute shortages of essential supplies, with around 96% of Gaza’s population facing severe food insecurity.