The United States and Jordan team up for airdrop of humanitarian aid into Gaza
In a historic move, the United States made its first airdrop of humanitarian aid into Gaza on Saturday in partnership with Jordan. This action comes as the Biden administration seeks to prevent a greater humanitarian disaster in the region amid growing frustration with Israel.
According to a statement from the U.S. Central Command, U.S. planes conducted the airdrop alongside the Jordanian Air Force. The airdrops are part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to provide life-saving assistance to the people in Gaza, with plans for potential follow-on missions in the works.
Three U.S. Air Force cargo planes dropped 66 pallets over southwest Gaza, containing 38,000 ready-to-eat meals. This delivery comes on the heels of President Biden’s pledge to find new ways to aid Palestinians in need due to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.
The decision to resort to airdrops was prompted by a recent incident where over 100 Palestinians were killed as Israeli forces fired upon a convoy of aid trucks in northern Gaza. U.S. officials believe that ground convoys are not providing sufficient relief to the desperate population in Gaza, leading them to explore alternative methods of aid delivery.
While airdrops can provide immediate assistance, they are limited in scale compared to ground convoys. The officials emphasize the importance of negotiating a ceasefire to allow for increased truck traffic into Gaza.
As poor weather is forecasted for Gaza on Sunday, it remains uncertain when the next airdrop will take place. The situation in Gaza continues to be dire, and the international community is working tirelessly to provide much-needed support to those affected by the ongoing conflict.
