United States Plans More Airdrops of Food Aid into Gaza to Alleviate Hunger Crisis
The United States has announced its plans to conduct additional airdrops of food aid into Gaza, following the success of its first drop on Saturday. The airdrops are intended to alleviate the hunger crisis in the besieged enclave, where a lack of food has forced some people to resort to eating weeds and animal feed. While aid groups have warned that the airdrops are insufficient to meet the enormous need, the United States is expanding its direct role in addressing the growing humanitarian crisis.
Collaboration between the U.S. Air Force and Royal Jordanian Air Force facilitated the airdrop of bundles of ready-to-eat halal meals along the Gaza coastline, allowing for civilian access. Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and France have also carried out aerial aid deliveries in recent days. However, dropping aid from planes is considered expensive and inefficient, raising questions about why this method is being employed.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari emphasized the importance of the airdrop and revealed that the IDF coordinated with the United States and Jordan to facilitate it. The number of trucks carrying food and essential items into Gaza has significantly decreased in recent weeks due to Israeli airstrikes targeting police officers who guard the convoys. Aid groups, including the World Food Program, have also suspended deliveries to the north, where the need is greatest, citing security concerns.
The United Nations has reported that 1 in 4 people in Gaza face “catastrophic levels of food insecurity.” Shockingly, Gaza’s Health Ministry disclosed that 15 children died from malnutrition and dehydration at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. However, the Washington Post could not independently verify this report.
Meanwhile, cease-fire negotiations are ongoing. A State Department official revealed that there is “a deal on the table” that Israel has “more or less accepted,” awaiting a response from Hamas. The proposed deal includes increased aid deliveries on the ground and a six-week pause in fighting, during which sick, wounded, female, and elderly individuals in Gaza would be released. U.S. officials hope to initiate a cease-fire before the holy month of Ramadan, which is set to begin around March 10.
Delegations from Hamas, Qatar, and the United States convened in Cairo for a new round of negotiations. However, Israel will not send a high-level delegation to Egypt until Hamas provides a response. The situation remains sensitive, and an Israeli official with knowledge of the negotiations spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing talks.
The hunger crisis in Gaza has reached a desperate level, with families struggling to fend off starvation. Last week, a tragic incident occurred when a crowd converged on an aid convoy, resulting in the deaths of at least 118 people and injuries to 760 others, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Palestinian officials, eyewitnesses, and doctors claim that Israeli troops fired on the crowd, while the Israel Defense Forces maintain that only warning shots were fired and that most casualties were due to a stampede. The Washington Post could not independently verify these conflicting accounts.
In other news, Vice President Harris is scheduled to meet with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz at the White House on Monday. This meeting is part of the Biden administration’s broader efforts to engage with various Israeli officials and plan for the post-war period. Additionally, Italy’s Defense Ministry reported that its naval ship Duilio shot down an approaching drone in the Red Sea, which exhibited characteristics similar to those used in previous attacks. The ministry condemned these “Houthi terrorist attacks” as a violation of international law and a threat to maritime traffic.
Since the beginning of the war, at least 30,410 people have been killed and 71,700 injured in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel estimates that around 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s attack on October 7 and reports that 245 soldiers have been killed since the start of its military operation in Gaza.
As the situation in Gaza worsens, it is crucial for international efforts to intensify and provide the necessary aid to alleviate the hunger crisis. The airdrops conducted by the United States and other countries are a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the enormous need and ensure the well-being of the people in Gaza.
