Pentagon inspector general, USAID to review Gaza pier operation

The inspector general for the Department of Defense on Thursday announced it would review the Gaza pier operation in which the military established a floating pier to deliver humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The operation is part of the Biden administration's efforts to provide relief to the civilian population of the strip amid the ongoing Israeli invasion, which came in the wake of an Oct. 7 Hamas raid. The floating pier was completed in May but the operation has faced scrutiny over the slow pace of aid delivery and the pier itself sustained damage in June. It was repaired and reopened after a short period, but then dismantled again due to poor weather. The pier is currently operational, according to the Associated Press.

Both the DOD IG and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will review the operation, the DOD IG confirmed in a press release. The DOD IG will specifically focus on the Pentagon's efforts to delivery aid through the maritime corridor while USAID will review the distribution of the aid once it reached the strip.

"The agreements between the DoD and USAID establish roles and responsibilities that help enable U.S. humanitarian assistance to reach Gaza through the maritime corridor. Given this, the DoD OIG and USAID OIG are working together to address the challenges associated with this mission. Through our collaboration, we will leverage the unique expertise, resources, and capabilities of our teams to optimize our oversight in this important area," DoD Inspector General Robert P. Storch said.

The Israeli invasion of the strip has faced international condemnation over the reported civilian death toll and the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor announced in May that he would seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as several Israeli and Hamas leaders. The Biden administration has repeatedly sparred with Jerusalem over its handling of the conflict and Biden himself has called the Israeli offensive "over the top."