First shipment of humanitarian aid leaves for US-built floating pier off Gaza [Video]

The first shipment of humanitarian aid to a newly built U.S.-built floating pier off Gaza has left a port in Cyprus.

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos says the U.S. vessel departed from Larnaca port with the aim of transferring as much badly needed aid to Gaza by sea as possible.

U.S. President Joe Biden gave an order about two months ago to build the large floating platform several miles (kilometers) off the Gaza coast.

The World Health Organization says shortages of fuel for its medical operations in southern Gaza have already forced one of three remaining hospitals in the city of Rafah to shut down.

The Rafah border crossing with Egypt has been closed since Israel’s military took control of the Palestinian side early Tuesday, blocking the entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid. The U.N. says northern Gaza is already in a state of “full-blown famine.”

The war in Gaza has driven around 80% of the territory’s …