The U.S. military’s Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore system (JLOTS), used since May to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, has concluded its mission, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) announced yesterday. Despite this, Centcom remains dedicated to delivering the remaining aid initially intended for JLOTS, stated Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a news briefing.
“In the coming days, Centcom will work with USAID to deliver the remaining aid commodities, currently afloat, to the port of Ashdod, in Israel, for onward distribution to Gaza, and will provide coordination and liaison support for humanitarian aid delivery as requested by USAID when appropriate,” Singh said.
The JLOTS pier in Gaza has been non-operational since late June due to sea conditions. Consequently, the remaining five million pounds of humanitarian aid will now be delivered through the Israeli port of Ashdod.
This aid, Singh noted, is either in Cyprus or “afloat” on commercial or U.S. military vessels in the Mediterranean Sea. The Defense Department deployed JLOTS in early May, establishing a floating pier off the coast of Gaza and another pier, the Trident Pier, on the Gaza shore.
The mission involved multiple steps: commercial cargo ships loaded with humanitarian aid sailed from Cyprus to the floating pier, where cargo was transferred to trucks aboard Army logistic vessels. These vessels then traveled to the Trident Pier, where the trucks delivered aid to Gaza.
Singh declared the mission a success, highlighting that it delivered nearly 20 million pounds of aid with the collaboration of 12 nations, international partners, USAID, and the United Nations. This volume represents the highest amount of humanitarian assistance ever delivered by the U.S. military into the Middle East.
Moving forward, the U.S. military will play an advisory role in continuing aid deliveries, which will now route through Ashdod and then overland to Gaza. “We will maintain coordination elements such as the cells in Cyprus and Israel to ensure aid continues flowing into Gaza,” Singh said. “This new route will ultimately be managed by USAID and other humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Program.”–News Desk