Israel Announces Airdrops of Aid in Gaza Amid Intensifying Humanitarian Crisis

Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip — Israel's military announced airdrops of aid would begin Saturday night in Gaza, after months of warnings of famine amid Israeli restrictions on aid. The humanitarian corridor for United Nations convoys was established, following international criticism and growing reports of starvation-related deaths. The airdrops were requested by neighboring Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates stated that aid drops would start immediately. Britain plans to work with partners to airdrop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance.

Key Takeaways:

• Israel's military announced airdrops of aid in Gaza, to be conducted in coordination with international aid organizations, after months of warnings of famine amid Israeli restrictions on aid.
• Over 250 trucks carrying aid from the U.N. and other organizations entered Gaza this week, with about 600 trucks entering per day during the latest ceasefire that Israel ended in March.
• More than two dozen Western-aligned countries and over 100 charity and human rights groups have called for an end to the war, criticizing Israel's blockade and a new aid delivery model it has rolled out.
• Israel's foreign ministry said the humanitarian pauses would start Sunday in "civilian centers" along with humanitarian corridors, while emphasizing that combat operations have not ceased in Gaza against Hamas.
• Witness accounts from Gaza have been grim, with health workers weakened by hunger, parents showing their limp and emaciated children, and wounded men describing desperate dashes for aid under gunfire.
• The airdrops were requested by neighboring Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates said aid drops would start immediately, with Britain planning to work with partners to airdrop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance.
• The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, warned that airdrops are "expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians" and won't reverse the increasing starvation or prevent aid diversion.

Statistics:

• Over 250 trucks carrying aid from the U.N. and other organizations entered Gaza this week.
• About 600 trucks entered per day during the latest ceasefire that Israel ended in March.
• More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while trying to get food, mostly near the new aid sites run by the GHF, an American contractor, the U.N. human rights office says.
• Over two dozen Western-aligned countries and more than 100 charity and human rights groups have called for an end to the war, harshly criticizing Israel's blockade and a new aid delivery model it has rolled out.

Sources:

• Waafa Shurafa and Samy Magdy, Associated Press
• The Associated Press
• Israeli military statement
• Israeli foreign ministry statement
• United Arab Emirates statement
• Britain's statement
• United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees statement
• U.N. human rights office statement