US, Jordan conduct humanitarian aid airdrop in Gaza

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US and Jordan conducted additional humanitarian aid airdrops Monday into the Gaza Strip.

"U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza on April 1, 2024, at 12:16 p.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians in Gaza affected by the ongoing conflict," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X.

The operation included Jordan providing food and three US Air Force C-130 aircraft, it said, adding the C-130 aircraft dropped 25,344 meal equivalents including rice, flour, milk, pasta and canned food, providing life-saving humanitarian assistance.

"During today's mission, approximately 60 bundles landed in the sea. CENTCOM does not assess civilian harm or damage to infrastructure at this time but continues to monitor the situation," it stressed, adding humanitarian airdrops contribute to ongoing US and partner-nation government efforts to alleviate human suffering.

"These airdrops are part of a sustained effort, and we continue to plan follow-on aerial deliveries," it said.

The Pentagon previously said that safety is a "top priority" when planning the airdrops.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas which killed some 1,200 people.

At least 32,845 Palestinians have since been killed and nearly 75,400 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which on Thursday asked it to do more to prevent famine in Gaza.