Denmark looking into aid airdrops into Gaza

By Ebad Ahmed

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AA) - Denmark is exploring the possibility of dropping humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and it has urged Israel to allow it to enter the city by land routes, state news media DR reported Tuesday.

"We are considering airdropping aid to Gaza," Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a news conference alongside his South African counterpart in South Africa, however, he expressed concerns that "it will only be a drop in the ocean compared to the situation in Gaza."

Rasmussen discussed the need for a cease-fire in Gaza and the framework to expand aid to residents in dire need.

In a separate interview with DR, Rasmussen reiterated that the capacity of a plane to drop aid is half of what can fit in a truck transported through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

"So, where a real difference can be made is at the border, where there needs to be a more flexible system. It is Israel's responsibility that this should happen,” he said.

Copenhagen expressed shock March 3 for the killing of more than 127 Palestinian civilians who were desperately trying to get humanitarian aid.

“All possible measures must be taken to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza & to ensure safe delivery,” he wrote on X as he demanded a thorough investigation.

Due to the war waged by Israel on Oct. 7 and Israeli restrictions, Palestinians, especially in Gaza City and in the north, are on the brink of famine, which has already claimed the lives of children amid severe shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel, with nearly 2 million residents of the total population of 2.3 million displaced.