Two U.S. officials indicated that "the U.S. military carried out its first airdrop of humanitarian assistance to Gaza today, Saturday." The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the airdrop was conducted using three C-130 aircraft. One of them mentioned that "more than 35,000 meals were dropped." The White House clarified that "the airdrop operations will continue, and Israel supports these missions."
Three C-130 planes dropped over 35,000 meals in an area where the United Nations reports that a quarter of the population is one step away from famine. Palestinians shared footage on social media showing aid boxes during the airdrop.
Amid growing doubts about the resumption of ceasefire talks in Egypt tomorrow, Sunday, the Gaza health ministry reported that at least 11 Palestinians were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent in Rafah, where people sought refuge from the military onslaught. The ministry added that 50 others were injured in the strike near a hospital in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah. One of the deceased worked as a paramedic at the hospital. The Israeli military has not yet responded to requests for comment.
More than one million Palestinians are sheltering in the city of Rafah, fleeing the Israeli assault which has devastated a large part of Gaza and resulted in over 30,000 deaths, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave. U.S. President Joe Biden stated that he hopes for a ceasefire agreement by the beginning of Ramadan.
International pressure is mounting for a ceasefire as the United Nations warns that a quarter of the 2.3 million residents are on the brink of famine in the Israeli-blockaded territory. Other countries, including France, Egypt, and Jordan, have conducted airdrop operations to provide aid to Gaza.
