Tragic incident in Gaza as aid airdrop package kills five people
Officials in Gaza have confirmed that a tragic incident occurred in the Al-Shati refugee camp, leading to the death of five people and injuring 11 others. The incident took place at around 4:30 a.m. Eastern on Friday. It was reported that an aid airdrop package, intended to provide desperately needed supplies to the residents of Gaza, malfunctioned when at least one parachute failed to properly deploy. The malfunction caused a parcel to fall on the victims. Among the casualties were two boys, while the ages of the injured victims ranged between 30 and 50 years old.
Insufficient aid to Gaza
Gaza, an area experiencing an ever-worsening humanitarian crisis, has received aid in the form of airdrops. The United States, along with countries including Jordan, Egypt, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, took part in the effort to provide essential supplies to Gaza’s population. However, international aid agencies and others have criticized the airdrops as inadequate to meet the growing needs of the people in Gaza.
The United Nations has warned of a widespread famine in Gaza, home to approximately 2.3 million residents. Martin Griffiths, the top humanitarian aid coordinator at the UN, emphasized that the airdrops were a “last resort” in the face of the dire situation. He further urged all parties concerned to pressure the Israeli government to grant unimpeded humanitarian land access and avoid blocking aid convoys.
An image from the incident
A call for increased aid
The insufficiency of the airdrops prompted strong appeals for increased aid to Gaza. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, characterized the airdrops as “good but insufficient” and highlighted the need for more substantial measures. Similarly, U.S. officials acknowledge that the airdrops alone are not enough to address the immense crisis in Gaza. They emphasized that the airdrops signify a statement to the international community that action is being taken to alleviate the famine in Gaza.
U.S. military to construct temporary pier for aid deliveries
As part of ongoing efforts to provide help to Gaza, President Biden announced that the U.S. military will build a temporary pier along Gaza’s Mediterranean coast. The pier aims to enable the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid, including food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters. The plan involves the U.S. Army’s 7th Transportation Brigade, based in Virginia, overseeing the installation of the pier. Nevertheless, it is expected to take several weeks to complete the project and begin operations.
Israel welcomes the aid plan
Lior Haiat, a spokesperson for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, expressed support for the plan and emphasized that Israel welcomes initiatives that increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, Haiat also reiterated Israel’s commitment to combat Hamas, whom they consider a threat, while continuing to facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza in accordance with the rules of war and in coordination with the United States and other allies.
