The United States and Jordan team up for first 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 comes as the Biden administration seeks to prevent a greater humanitarian disaster amid frustration with Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the region.
According to a statement from the U.S. Central Command, U.S. planes conducted the airdrop along with 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 action follows President Biden’s commitment to finding new ways to deliver aid to Palestinians in need, particularly in light of recent deadly incidents involving Israeli forces and aid convoys.
While airdrops can provide much-needed supplies, U.S. officials acknowledge that they are not a long-term solution. Ground convoys remain the most effective way to deliver aid at scale, but access has been limited due to ongoing conflict. The ultimate goal is to negotiate a ceasefire that would allow for increased truck traffic into Gaza.
As poor weather looms over the region, the timing of the next airdrop remains uncertain. However, the collaboration between the United States and Jordan marks a significant step towards addressing the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
