UAE and Egypt conduct eighth aid airdrop to Gaza

This joint operation delivered 64 tons of food and medical supplies, announced the UAE Ministry of Defense's Joint Operations Command via X.

According to a statement by the Egyptian Defense Ministry, Egypt continues to support air aid delivery operations to Gaza in collaboration with "friendly and brotherly" nations, as part of the international coalition's efforts in Jordan.

This recent airdrop, under the "Birds of Goodness" initiative, seeks to mitigate the hardships faced by the Palestinian people in Gaza. Since the initiative's inception on February 29, a total of 353 tons of humanitarian aid has reached the enclave.

The Jordanian army revealed that the latest air aid, which included contributions from Jordan, Egypt, the US, France, and Belgium, was specifically directed to northern Gaza. This marks the seventh occasion that these countries have collaborated to deliver aid amidst the ongoing crisis.

The backdrop of this humanitarian effort is a severe military offensive launched by Israel against the Gaza Strip since October 7, following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas. The conflict has resulted in nearly 1,200 fatalities initially and has since claimed the lives of over 31,100 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, injuring more than 72,700 individuals. The extensive damage and dire shortages in Gaza have been exacerbated by a stringent Israeli blockade, pushing the majority of Gaza's population towards starvation and internal displacement. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports at least 27 deaths due to malnutrition and dehydration because of the blockade.

With 85% of Gaza's population displaced and 60% of its infrastructure damaged or destroyed, the international community's concern grows. The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of genocide, issuing an interim ruling demanding an immediate cessation of such acts and the assurance of humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza's civilians.