Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have carried out fresh airdrops of humanitarian aid over Gaza, days after Israel announced new measures aimed at facilitating the entry of relief supplies into the besieged enclave, amid growing international alarm over widespread hunger and malnutrition. The Israeli military said it is opening additional aid corridors to “refute the false claim of intentional starvation,” following warnings from aid agencies about an escalating food crisis. The new routes are intended to expedite the delivery of assistance to Gaza’s civilian population, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.Jordan’s state news agency reported that 60 trucks carrying essential food items were also en route to Gaza via land. Egypt is likewise increasing ground deliveries of humanitarian supplies through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, Egyptian officials confirmed.
Despite the airdrops, international aid organisations say the efforts fall far short of meeting Gaza’s needs. “Airdrops are a grotesque distraction from the real humanitarian solution,” said a spokesperson for one group, calling for unfettered land access to the Strip.
Experts estimate that at least 160 airdrop flights would be needed daily to provide a single meal to each of Gaza’s two million residents. The World Food Programme and other agencies have warned that aerial operations are logistically inefficient and fail to deliver aid at the scale required.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, at least 133 people — many of them children — have died of malnutrition since the war began in October. Medical personnel in the enclave have reported cases of severe wasting and starvation-related illnesses, particularly in northern Gaza, where access remains highly restricted. The worsening humanitarian conditions come as diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire continue to stall. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas-led attack that killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel, according to Israeli officials. More than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ensuing conflict, Gaza health authorities say.
