Pentagon Reveals Over 60 U.S. Troops Injured in Gaza Aid Pier Operation Under Biden

A newly released report by the Pentagon’s Inspector General has revealed that more than 60 U.S. troops sustained injuries during the mission to deploy a floating aid pier off the coast of Gaza; significantly more than previously acknowledged.

The pier project, first introduced by then-President Joe Biden during a televised speech to Congress in March 2024, involved approximately 1,000 American service members and marked a major logistical undertaking.

Despite the scale of the effort, poor weather conditions and logistical hurdles within Gaza severely limited its impact. The U.S. military described it as its most extensive humanitarian aid initiative in the region, though the pier remained in operation for only around 20 days and came with a hefty price tag of $230 million.

Initially, the Pentagon had reported just three non-combat injuries related to the pier, one of which required a medical evacuation due to critical condition. No deaths or direct attacks on the structure were reported.

However, the updated findings from the Pentagon Inspector General now confirm a total of 62 service members were injured in connection with the mission.

“Based on the information provided, we were not able to determine which of these 62 injuries occurred during the performance of duties or resulted off duty or from pre-existing medical conditions,” the report stated.

The project became politically divisive, with critics in Congress, especially Republicans, labeling it a publicity move by Biden, who faced growing pressure from Democrats to provide more humanitarian support to Palestinians amid continued U.S. backing of Israel’s military operations against Hamas terrorists.

While the pier succeeded in delivering essential supplies to a designated area on Gaza’s shoreline, its 1,200-foot length proved vulnerable to rough weather, leading to repeated removals.

The Inspector General further criticized the execution of the operation, noting that U.S. forces fell short in meeting necessary standards for equipment and preparedness.

“Nor did they organize, train, and equip their forces to meet common joint standards,” the report stated.