Britain Royal Air Force airdrops 10 metric tons of food aid into Gaza

Britain’s Royal Air Force airdropped more than 10 metric tons of food supplies into Gaza for the first time on Monday, Britain’s defense ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The aid, which consists of water, rice, cooking oil, flour, tinned goods and baby formula, will support the people of Gaza,” the ministry said.

Earlier this month, US and Jordanian aircraft dropped food supplies to Palestinian civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip in a joint humanitarian aid operation, US Central Command said in a statement on March 16.

The aftermath of Israel’s air and ground offensive, which ensued after the October 7 incursion by Hamas militants ruling the enclave, has left much of Gaza in ruins. With its 2.3 million Palestinian inhabitants grappling with severe food shortages, such joint aid operations become critical in addressing the pressing humanitarian crisis.

The United States, Israel’s main ally, and other countries have called on Israel to allow in more humanitarian aid. Israel blames UN agencies for slow deliveries, saying it puts no limits on assistance.