Four US military ships ran aground while supporting work at the temporary dock built to deliver aid to Gaza. Two of them were stranded, according to the United States Central Command.
In a statement, cited by the Efe news agency, the command detailed: “The ships were freed from their moorings and two ships are now anchored on the beach near the pier. The third and fourth ships are stranded on the coast of Israel, near Ashkelon.”
US military authorities warned that they are making efforts to recover the ships with the support of the Israeli Navy.
No injuries have been reported from the incident, and the dock continues to operate normally, the command explained. Centcom emphasized that no US personnel “will enter Gaza.”
On May 16, the United States announced the beginning of floating dock operations to establish a maritime humanitarian corridor to Gaza, operational since last week.
This Thursday, US administration sources told the press that by early September, maritime conditions could force the floating dock to be dismantled due to worsening weather.
It is not known with certainty what will happen to the dock and platform after this Saturday’s incident. Centcom said it would provide details later.
During this week, United Nations agencies in charge of distributing materials on land suspended deliveries due to altercations at the dock and the logistical and security difficulties they face.
The project includes two main components: a floating platform to which ships loaded with aid are moored, and a dock called Trident, which allows trucks to transport supplies to dry land.
Gaza casualty toll nears 36,000
This Saturday, the death toll in the Gaza Strip reached 35,903, after 46 new deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours due to Israeli attacks. The data was provided by the Gaza Ministry of Health, under the control of the Hamas terrorist group, Efe noted.
In a statement, the ministry reported: “The Israeli occupation commits five massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, including 46 deaths and 130 injuries during the last 24 hours.”
The number of wounded rises to 80,420 since the beginning of the conflict.
Gazan authorities highlighted the difficulties faced by ambulance and civil rescue teams in reaching the affected areas due to the intensity of Israeli fire. They estimate that thousands of people remain missing under the rubble.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported the death of 20 Palestinians, including children and women, due to Israeli airstrikes this Saturday in the north of the strip.
Additionally, medical sources reported an Israeli bombing of a house in the city of Beit Hanoun, in the north of the enclave, which resulted in the death of 10 civilians.
The Israeli Army indicated in a statement that hand-to-hand combat against alleged militants in Jabalia, north of the enclave, continues and that on the last day they managed to kill several of them.
In Rafah, at the southern end of the strip and shelter for thousands of civilians, Israeli forces continue their offensive, despite the fact that on Friday the International Court of Justice urged Israel to stop it “immediately”, in a new series of measures precautionary measures issued following South Africa’s lawsuit.
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