A Pentagon watchdog report reveals that the former Biden administration’s $230 million Gaza pier project resulted in 62 U.S. service member injuries, one death, and $31 million in equipment damage. The initiative, intended to deliver humanitarian aid, was operational for only 20 days and failed to meet its objectives.
Underprepared Forces and Equipment Failures
The Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) system, deployed in March 2024, faced significant challenges due to inadequate preparation. The Army and Navy lacked sufficient training and equipment, leading to interoperability issues. The Pentagon’s Inspector General noted that the services “did not organize, train, and equip to a common joint standard” for the operation.
Despite initial reports of only three injuries, the Pentagon’s inspector general confirmed that 62 service members were injured during the mission. The operation also resulted in the death of Army Sgt. Quandarius Davon Stanley.
A report from Marine Executive highlighted that “the Army and Navy pontoon systems were different and resulted in damage when used together.” The incompatibility led to Army boats puncturing the sides of taller Navy pontoons, despite prior knowledge that these systems should not be combined.
Neglect of Environmental Assessments
Planners failed to consider the beach conditions and sea states at the Gaza site, a critical oversight for the JLOTS system, which is rated for calm waters with waves less than four feet. The pier was deployed on an exposed beachhead facing the sea, making it vulnerable to rough weather. One storm tore the structure apart, scattering pontoon sections along the beachfront. Subsequently, the pier had to be removed whenever forecasts predicted higher waves.
Ineffectiveness and Political Motivations
The pier delivered aid to approximately 450,000 individuals, far below the projected 1.5 million. USAID had previously warned that the project would be less effective than negotiating with Israel to open land crossings for aid delivery. Despite these warnings, the administration proceeded, leading to questions about the mission’s true motivations.
The Gaza pier project exemplifies a failure in planning and execution, resulting in unnecessary risks to U.S. service members and wasted resources. As Marine Executive noted, “In the run-up to the deployment, planners also failed to take beach conditions and sea states at the site under consideration—a profound and inexplicable error for this particular system.
