US, Jordan jointly conduct humanitarian airdrops into Gaza

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) – US Central Command (CENTCOM) and Jordanian Air Force jointly conducted humanitarian assistance airdrop into northern Gaza Sunday to provide relief to civilians affected by the ongoing war.

“U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza on March 24, 2024, at 12:18 p.m. (Gaza time) (1018GMT) to provide essential relief to civilians in Gaza affected by the ongoing conflict,” CENTCOM said on X.

"The combined joint operation included Jordanian provided food and a US Air Force C-130 aircraft," with the US aircraft dropping "13,080 meal equivalents, including rice, flour, milk, pasta and canned foods, providing life-saving humanitarian assistance" in northern Gaza, it noted.

CENTCOM said humanitarian airdrops by the US Department of Defense "contribute to ongoing US and partner-nation government efforts to alleviate human suffering," and "are part of a sustained effort, and we continue to plan follow-on aerial deliveries.”

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Palestinian territory since a cross-border attack led by the Palestinian group Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed.

More than 32,200 Palestinians have since been killed and over 74,500 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

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 is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.