The Biden Administration's plans to build a temporary pier on the coast of Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid has raised concerns among Republicans. While the Biden Administration has stated support for Israel in its war against Hamas, actions such as building the pier will only prolong the war. As a result, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) recently spearheaded a letter demanding details on aid security and ensuring Hamas will not take the aid for themselves.
"We have strong reservations about your directing the United States military to establish a temporary pier on the Gaza Coast," Sen. Scott's letter began, acknowledging that while the Israeli government sanctioned the decision, American personnel are still put in harm's way.
Additionally, constructing the pier "ignores the most basic cause of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis: the fact that Hamas ignited the current war on October 7 by murdering 1,200 people, including more than 30 Americans, and taking another 240 hostages, including 12 Americans," as Sen. Scott noted.
As a result, Scott demanded a detailed explanation of how the Department of Defense would ensure the safety of American troops deployed to distribute aid, rules of engagement in the face of inevitable Hamas attacks, and how the aid would be kept out of Hamas' hands.
The letter cited testimony from U.S. Central Commander Mike Kurilla, who testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier in March that he saw approximately 2,500 aid trucks waiting to enter Gaza, thus leading to Scott's question of aid distribution delivered via the pier.
Finally, the Florida Senator demanded any updates on how the Department of Defense intended to rescue American hostages still held by Hamas and if the pier was diverting resources away from that goal.
"We urge you to redouble your efforts to compel Hamas to release the hostages, which would end the war and improve the humanitarian situation without deploying U.S. service members to the shores of a war zone," Scott concluded.
The Florida Senator recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who thanked Scott for his unwavering support of Israel in the face of a recent ceasefire resolution the United States let pass that did not condemn Hamas.
