Israel's army announced on Thursday that the construction of a floating pier off Gaza's seashore has begun, intending to deliver desperately needed aid to the region.

The so-called Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore initiative, led by the United States Central Command, would create a temporary floating pier to deliver humanitarian aid from the sea into Gaza, the Israeli military said in a statement.

The U.S. Pentagon also confirmed the commencement of the construction. "I can confirm that U.S. military vessels have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea," Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder told journalists in Washington.