3 US & 1 Aid Worker Injured On Gaza Pier
A U.S. service member is in critical condition after sustaining a non-combat injury on Thursday while supporting humanitarian aid to Gaza. According to a U.S. defense official, the injury occurred aboard the USNS Benavidez (T-AKR 306) during the humanitarian aid mission. The injured service member was quickly transported to a medical facility for treatment and remains in critical condition. "More information will be provided as it becomes available," the official stated.
In a Thursday on-record call, defense officials confirmed that three U.S. service members were injured during the mission. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper described the other two injuries as "very minor" and "routine," noting that those service members had already returned to duty. "One was simply a sprained ankle," Cooper mentioned, without providing further details.
The humanitarian mission involved anchoring a temporary pier on a Gaza beach last Thursday. This effort comes amid growing international pressure on Israel to allow more supplies into Gaza, which is besieged and facing a looming famine due to the ongoing conflict with Palestinian militants Hamas.
Operations began on Friday, with 10 aid trucks driven by U.N. contractors to a World Food Programme warehouse in Deir El Balah, Gaza. However, the following day, only five trucks reached the warehouse, as 11 were intercepted by crowds along the way. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric explained this as "self-distribution," where people, fearing they would never receive aid, seized what they could.
"These trucks were traveling through areas where there’d been no aid. I think people feared that they would never see aid. They grabbed what they could," Dujarric said.
The U.N. paused distribution to plan new routes and coordinate deliveries better to prevent further interceptions, according to Abeer Etefa, a WFP spokesperson in Cairo.
Aid access into southern Gaza has faced significant disruptions since Israel intensified military operations in Rafah, a move that the U.N. claims has forced 900,000 people to flee. The situation remains dire, with efforts continuing to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need amid the ongoing conflict.
This incident highlights the complexities and dangers of providing humanitarian aid in conflict zones. The U.S. service members' dedication to supporting these missions underscores the critical role they play in global humanitarian efforts, even as they face personal risks and challenges. The hope is that the critically injured service member will recover soon, and that humanitarian operations can proceed with greater safety and efficiency in the future.