The Pentagon has acknowledged reports of mortar attacks near the staging area for humanitarian aid delivery off the coast of Gaza. Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed that some mortars landed in the vicinity of the marshaling yard on Thursday afternoon, causing minimal damage. Ryder emphasized that the incident transpired before any US forces initiated the movement of supplies and that no US assets were harmed. The status of any potential damage to Israeli assets remains unclear.
Ryder provided details about the ongoing construction of the temporary pier and causeway by the USNS Benavidez. The pier will be located at sea, while the causeway will extend from land to connect with the pier. This setup will serve as the focal point for aid storage and loading onto ships destined for Gaza. Ryder further noted that the marshaling yard will be situated near the future connection point of the causeway, with the pier and causeway acting as crucial intermediate components.
Regarding reports of mass graves in Gaza and allegations of war crimes, Ryder indicated that the Defense Secretary has not yet engaged in discussions with Israeli counterparts. Earlier on Thursday, a spokesperson had requested additional information from Israel concerning the graves. The State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, has faced criticism for the US’s decision to allow Israel to conduct its own investigation into the allegations, rather than supporting calls for an independent inquiry.
