The United States has been forced to suspend the delivery of aid to its temporary "floating pier" on the coast of Gaza due to severe weather conditions causing the structure to break apart. Officials confirmed that four stabilizing vessels attached to the pier broke off earlier this week, rendering the pier no longer operational.

According to Fox News Digital, the U.S. administration, under President Biden, had invested approximately $320 million in constructing the massive floating dock. However, just a week after it became operational, the pier suffered significant damage.

Of the four detached stabilizing vessels, two drifted northward and ended up landing on a beach in Ashdod, Israel, while the remaining two remained anchored near the damaged pier. The repairs are expected to take at least a week, as reported by a U.N. official to NBC News.

Despite the pier being used to transfer approximately 569 metric tons of aid into Gaza, none of it had been delivered to the Palestinians as of last week, confirmed by the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, tensions escalate as Israel conducted a substantial operation in Rafah. Witnesses reported tanks advancing into the heart of the city, near the Al-Awda mosque - a central landmark in Rafah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not specify whether their forces had reached the city center but affirmed their ongoing operations in the Rafah area.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that the Israeli military may be utilizing remote-operated armored vehicles, as there was no immediate sign of personnel in or around them. The IDF refrained from commenting on these reports.

While Israeli tanks had been probing the outskirts of Rafah since assuming control of the border crossing with Egypt three weeks ago, this marks the first significant entry into the city.

The suspension of aid delivery and the deteriorating situation in Rafah serves as a setback for hopes of stability in the Gaza region, further underscoring the challenges faced by both the United States and Israel in their efforts to provide vital assistance and maintain security. The timeline for repairs to the floating pier remains uncertain, leaving aid efforts in limbo while the situation on the ground continues to unfold.