US stops sending aid to Gaza because the floating pier purchased by Biden administration for $320 million is sinking.

The U.S. faced a setback in delivering aid to its temporary “floating pier” off the coast of Gaza when rough weather caused the structure to break apart. A U.N. official stated that repairs would take at least a week, as reported by NBC News.

President Biden’s administration had invested around $320 million in constructing this massive floating dock, which only operated for a short period of time before sustaining damage.

Following the detachment of four stabilizing vessels earlier in the week, two of the boats ended up floating northward and landing on a beach in Ashdod, Israel, while the other two remained anchored at the beach near the pier.

The pier had successfully transferred approximately 569 metric tons of aid into Gaza. However, as of last week, none of this aid had been distributed to Palestinians, as confirmed by the Pentagon.

The timing of the pier’s failure coincided with a significant Israeli operation in Rafah, where tanks were observed entering the city center for the first time since the conflict began.

According to witnesses in Rafah, the Israeli military seemed to be utilizing remote-operated armored vehicles, with no immediate presence of personnel in or around them. The IDF did not provide a comment on these reports.

While Israeli tanks had previously been near Rafah, it was the first time they made a full force entry into the city, following the IDF’s takeover of the border crossing with Egypt three weeks prior.

The ongoing situation in Gaza, compounded by the suspension of aid delivery due to the damaged floating pier, highlights the complex and challenging dynamics of the region.

As repairs are underway and both the U.S. and Israel navigate through these obstacles, the importance of humanitarian aid and stability in the area remains a critical focus for international efforts.