HAMAS fired mortars at Israeli forces preparing to handle life-saving aid from a new floating pier moored off Gaza.
A 72ft-by-270ft platform is being readied by the US Army to ferry supplies from Cyprus to the strife-torn Palestinian territory after land routes were shut by fighting.
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Mortars exploded close to Israeli troops securing a loading area, which will be linked to the pier by a 1,000-yard causeway.
British Royal Marine snipers have been drafted in to protect the pier as around 90 aid trucks prepare to land in Gaza.
US Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said work on the pier had not been affected by Wednesday’s mortar attack.
General Ryder said: “We’re aware of reports that a small number of mortars landed in the vicinity of the marshalling yard area for humanitarian assistance that will eventually be the delivery site that this pier will support.”
Joe Biden yesterday issued a warning that he’ll stop sending key weapons to Israel if it launches a full-scale attack on Hamas’s last stronghold.
The US president said: “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah I’m not supplying weapons.”
America is Israel’s staunchest and most vital ally and by law provides the Jewish state with £3 billion of military aid each year – and agreed to a further £11 billion since the October 7 attacks.
But Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s determination to wipe out Hamas godfathers and terrorists in their last lair could trigger a bloodbath.
And Biden is threatening to pull the arms plug after coming under fire from pro-Palestinain demonstrators at home ahead of his November election battle with Donald Trump.
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