In a move that brings an end to a long-troubled project, U.S. officials have announced that the pier built by the U.S. military to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza will be reinstalled on Wednesday for temporary use. However, the plan is to permanently remove the pier after several days of operation. The decision comes as Israeli troops continue their offensive against Hamas in Gaza, making another push deeper into Gaza City.

The goal of reinstalling the pier is to clear the aid that has accumulated in Cyprus and on the floating dock offshore, and transport it to the secure area on the beach in Gaza. Once this task is completed, the Army will dismantle the pier and depart, marking the end of the project. The officials, who wished to remain anonymous, disclosed that final details are still being worked out.

From its inception, the pier was intended to provide a critical flow of aid to the starving residents of Gaza, as the ongoing nine-month-long war took a toll on the region. More than 19.4 million pounds of food has been delivered via the pier. However, the project has faced multiple challenges, including difficult weather conditions and security threats, leading to stalled deliveries.

The United Nations had suspended aid deliveries from the pier on June 9, after the Israeli military used the surrounding area for airlifts following a hostage rescue operation, which led to the death of over 270 Palestinians. While U.S. and Israeli officials maintained that the pier itself was not used in the raid, U.N. officials expressed concern that such perceptions in Gaza could potentially endanger aid work.

As a result of these concerns and ongoing talks between the U.N. and Israel, aid brought through the pier had piled up for days. To prevent spoilage of food and other supplies, the World Food Program hired a contractor to move aid from the beach to a secure location.

The pier's temporary removal on June 28 due to adverse weather conditions, followed by continuous discussions and repairs, have ultimately led to the decision to remove it permanently. The Pentagon had always emphasized that the pier was meant to be a temporary project, with the intention of persuading Israel to facilitate aid through more productive land routes.

As U.S. troops prepare to reinstall the pier for the final time, Israeli troops' advancement into Gaza City adds further complexity to the situation, potentially affecting negotiations on a cease-fire and hostage release. However, recent progress had indicated a narrowing of gaps between the conflicting sides.

In the coming days, the pier will serve its purpose one last time, delivering aid from the accumulated stockpiles to the secure area in Gaza. However, the project's discontinuation highlights the challenges faced in providing humanitarian aid amidst a volatile conflict with significant logistical obstacles.