A U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules conducts an airdrop of humanitarian assistance over Gaza, March 2, 2024. U.S.
With President Joe Biden’s approval, US military C-130 cargo planes began an emergency humanitarian food aid operation over Gaza on Saturday. This action was taken in response to the killing of over 100 Palestinians in a violent clash with Israeli forces while trying to take supplies from an aid convoy.
Airdrop over Gaza
Three Air Forces Central aircraft conducted an airdrop over Gaza at 8:30 a.m. EST (3:30 p.m. local time), releasing 66 bundles containing about 38,000 meals. This operation was conducted in the southwest of Gaza, more precisely along the Mediterranean coast. The Royal Jordanian Air Force, which reported carrying out two food airdrops in northern Gaza on the same Saturday and has carried out multiple similar operations in recent months, was contacted to coordinate the airdrop.
“The combined operation included U.S. Air Force and RJAF C-130 aircraft and respective Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of supplies, built bundles and ensured the safe drop of food aid,” U.S. Central Command said in a post on X.
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Ready to eat meals provided to people in Gaza strip
It is expected that the US airdrop will be the first in a planned series of such operations. Three officials from the Biden administration said that military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), which are shelf-stable meals with a day’s worth of calories in each sealed package, were distributed by the planes. According to media agency, these meals were dropped off in areas thought to be the safest for civilians to receive aid. Then US officials kept an eye on the locations and saw people coming over to share the food amongst themselves. This information was provided by the officials, who spoke under anonymity in order to reveal further details that have not yet been made public.
U.S. Central Command, in a post on X, wrote, “Video and pictures of the preparation and airdrop of 38,000 meals to the people of Gaza on Mar. 2.” John Kirby, a spokesman for national security at the White House, stated on Friday that the purpose of the airdrops was to safely provide emergency humanitarian aid to those on the ground. “Although Thursday’s events also demonstrated the risks with ground transport, the United States believes the airdrops will help address the dire situation in Gaza. However, they are no replacement for trucks, which can transport far more aid more effectively,” he stated.
At least 115 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more injured in the attack on Thursday as they rushed for aid, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. President Joe Biden announced on Friday that the US would start air-dropping food to the starving people in Gaza.
