Anadolu staff
24 May 2024•Update: 24 May 2024
JERUSALEM
The United States deployed an interception system to protect the floating pier off Gaza, Israeli media reported Friday.
The system is a US-made “Vulcan M61 cannon,” which may help in protecting against drones, the Israeli Channel 12 said.
"It was previously used in Iraq and other places, and the US army is using the same interception system in Gaza to protect the floating pier,” added the channel.
Regarding the nature of this system, the channel explained that it is a “six-barrel cannon that fires explosive shells with a diameter of 20 mm and is mounted, among other things, on US Air Force planes.”
It said that “the US army has conducted a test use of the system, and so far it has not been used practically.”
The US has not commented on the Israeli channel’s report as of 0950GMT.
On May 16, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the completion of the construction of the floating pier on the shores of the Gaza Strip, and aid delivery began the following day.
In this context, the floating pier established by the US off the shores of Gaza has become the only corridor for aid movement into the strip since May 17, but only limited quantities of aid have entered through it so far.
The Palestinian Hamas movement emphasizes that the floating pier should not be a substitute for opening all land crossings.
“US Central Command personnel continue to team up with USAID and the UN to deliver aid to the people of Gaza via a temporary pier affixed to the beach,” said the command on X on Friday.
It stated the total aid delivered by CENTCOM personnel from the sea to the transfer point on the shore reached 820.5 metric tons by May 22, and 150 metric tons on May 22. The aid distributed from the beach transfer point to the UN warehouse totaled 506 metric tons by May 22 and 185 metric tons on May 22.
Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the enclave.
At least 35,800 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 80,200 others injured since last October following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.
More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.
Israel is accused of genocide at the ICJ, which has ordered it to ensure that its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala
