The United States continues its efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, with a second round of airdrops conducted on Tuesday. U.S. Air Force cargo planes, in collaboration with the Jordanian Air Force, dropped 36,800 ready-to-eat meals to help alleviate the ongoing hunger crisis in the Palestinian territory.
However, some aid experts and humanitarian groups have criticized the airdrops as insufficient and symbolic, given the magnitude of the hunger problem in Gaza after months of conflict. They argue that a better solution would be for the U.S. to persuade Israel to open more border crossings and expedite inspections to allow for more effective aid delivery.
The airdrops come in the wake of a deadly incident where over 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces during an aid convoy in northern Gaza. While Israeli officials claim that most casualties were due to trampling as people tried to seize the aid, doctors at Gaza hospitals maintain that most victims were shot.
President Biden has expressed his commitment to finding new ways to provide aid to Palestinians in need, despite the challenges posed by Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The pressure is mounting on the U.S. to do more to help the Palestinians, even as it continues to supply military aid to Israel.
Despite the frustrations with Israel’s actions, President Biden has not threatened to limit American military aid to the country. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with a significant demand for food, water, and medicine. The airdrops, while a step in the right direction, may not be enough to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the Palestinian population.
