U.S. military sources told Reuters on Monday that the cost of the proposed ‘humanitarian pier’ in Gaza has risen to $320 million. Initial estimates for the project were reported to be half of that amount.
The construction effort, said to involve roughly 1,000 U.S. military personnel, was initiated by the Biden administration to serve as an additional entry point for humanitarian assistance for the coastal enclave’s civilian population.
"This dangerous effort with marginal benefit will now cost the American taxpayers at least $320 million to operate the pier for only 90 days," Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) told the news outlet when asked for comment on the issue.
"For every day this mission continues, the price tag goes up, and so does the level of risk for the 1,000 deployed troops within range of Hamas' rockets," he continued.
On Thursday, it was reported that Hamas terrorists fired a mortar barrage at the area where the structure would touch the shoreline.
When fully operational, the dockage facility is expected to serve 150 trucks per day.
