U.S. military C-130 cargo planes conducted an emergency humanitarian aid drop over Gaza on Saturday, as authorized by President Joe Biden in response to a deadly encounter between Israeli troops and Palestinian civilians.
Three planes from Air Forces Central dropped 66 bundles containing approximately 38,000 meals into southwest Gaza, along the territory’s Mediterranean coast. The airdrop was coordinated with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which conducted additional food drops in northern Gaza.
President Biden emphasized the ongoing efforts, stating, “The amount of aid flowing to Gaza is not nearly enough, and we will continue to pull out every stop we can to get more aid in.”
The joint operation involved U.S. Air Force and Royal Jordanian Air Force C-130 aircraft, along with specialized Army Soldiers ensuring the safe delivery of food aid.
This initial airdrop is expected to be followed by further humanitarian assistance efforts. The dropped meals, military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), were strategically placed to maximize civilian access to aid while ensuring their safety.
The decision to conduct airdrops came after a deadly incident on Thursday, where over 100 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more wounded while attempting to access aid convoys. The Biden administration aims to address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, acknowledging that airdrops are a supplement to, not a replacement for, ground transportation of aid.
