Three Central Air Force planes dropped 66 packages containing about 38,000 servings of meals in Gaza, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a public announcement.
The airdrops come after at least 115 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more wounded in a recent attack as they desperately sought help, the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza reported. Israel has claimed that many of the casualties were the result of a chaotic rush for food aid, with some Palestinians reportedly run over or crushed by troops. Israel also stated that its troops fired warning shots after the crowd approached.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the airdrops were planned to safely deliver emergency humanitarian assistance and that more airdrops are being planned for the coming weeks. President Biden has been trying to pressure Israel to reduce Palestinian civilian casualties and allow aid into the Gaza Strip, while also maintaining military assistance for the country.
The C-130 cargo plane used for the airdrops is a military aircraft known for its ability to deliver aid to remote locations due to its capacity to land in difficult environments and carry large amounts of cargo. A C-130 can airlift up to 42,000 pounds of cargo on huge pallets that can be safely dropped from the rear of the plane.
In related news, a remarkable story of survival emerged as a boy was found alive after being trapped under rubble in Gaza for nine days. The boy was dehydrated but alive, bringing hope amidst the ongoing conflict in the region. Organisations have raised concerns about Israel’s alleged war tactic of preventing aid from reaching Gaza, leaving many civilians in desperate need.