Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder held a news briefing on Tuesday as Gaza recovers from Israeli airstrikes that killed more than 60 Palestinians overnight, saying that a temporary pier that provided relief to Gazans continues to be wound down.
Watch the event in the player above.
Israel’s defense minister said Tuesday that Israel will soon replace the U.S. military’s offshore pier for delivering aid to the Gaza Strip with a dedicated facility in a southern Israeli port.
Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that “Pier 28” will be established in Israel’s Ashdod port to help deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. He did not say when it would begin operating.
The American temporary pier, located off Gaza’s coast, has been beset by ongoing weather and security problems since it was installed in May. The U.S. has said it is winding down the project, although officials say it has been a success in delivering badly needed food aid to the territory.
Gallant announced the decision after a meeting with Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, the head of the U.S. Central Command.
“The minister emphasized the defense establishment’s commitment to working with international partners to ensure the entry of critical humanitarian aid to Gaza,” his office said.
Gallant’s office also said he has instructed the military to set up a field hospital in Israel to treat Palestinian children who are unable to leave Gaza for medical care abroad.
It said the decision was made because of the extended closure of Gaza’s Rafah crossing into Egypt. The crossing has been closed since Israeli forces captured it in early May. Egypt has refused to reopen the crossing while it remains under Israeli control.
“This is a significant short-term solution that will address immediate humanitarian needs until a permanent mechanism is established to evacuate and treat ill children,” his office said.
It was not clear when the hospital would open.
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