The World Food Programme (WFP) has temporarily halted its operations at the United States military's floating temporary pier in Gaza, pending a comprehensive United Nations security assessment of aid worker safety. This decision comes after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a rescue operation in the region, which resulted in hundreds of Palestinian casualties and the liberation of four hostages held by Hamas.

According to Pentagon sources, there was some Israeli military activity near the staging area for the pier. However, they denied that the pier was involved in the rescue operation. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) spokesperson confirmed the temporary pause in humanitarian maritime corridor operations as the UN conducts a security assessment. Recent security incidents have severely constrained the ability of humanitarian actors to safely operate.

In response to the escalating crisis, the United Nations Security Council convened and passed a resolution, proposed by the United States, urging for a permanent ceasefire and the release of the hostages in Gaza. The resolution received overwhelming support with 14 votes in favor, zero against, and one abstention by Russia.

On Saturday, the Israeli police and the Israeli Security Agency released a video, recorded from a helmet camera, capturing the dramatic moment when three male hostages were rescued in Gaza. The video, which lasted about 45 seconds, showed Yamam (Police National Counterterrorism Unit) and Shin Bet operatives engaging in a fierce firefight with Gaza terrorists while rescuing the hostages under heavy fire.

The blurred video footage showed Israeli security forces approaching a property through a garden amid intense gunfire. CNN was able to geolocate the garden, confirming it as the same property where a Mercedes van reportedly used in the operation was found. The video, which was edited and had muted audio, featured the three male hostages cowering in a room, identifying themselves as Almog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov. As the gunfire continued, the hostages appeared to run through the garden based on the clothes they were wearing when rescued.

The four hostages, Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv, were kidnapped during the Nova music festival on October 7. Their rescue operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza marked a significant development in the ongoing conflict.

As the UN conducts its security assessment, the pause in operations at the US military pier in Gaza serves as a temporary measure to ensure the safety of humanitarian aid workers. The situation in Gaza remains tense, and international efforts are ongoing to establish a lasting ceasefire and work towards a peaceful resolution.