Humanitarian Airdrops Begin as Gaza Faces Starvation Crisis Amid Mounting Global Pressure on Israel
Israel enacts daily 10-hour 'tactical pause' for Gaza aid after UN warns 470,000 face famine. Jordan & UAE airdrop food as Netanyahu denies blocking supplies. Chaos erupts during distributions while naval forces intercept activist flotilla. Death toll nears 60,000.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Jordanian and Emirati planes airdropped food aid into Gaza on Sunday as Israel announced a limited "tactical pause" in military operations to enable the United Nations and humanitarian organizations to address the escalating hunger crisis in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
The Israeli military confirmed it had made its first food airdrop, releasing seven pallets of aid, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied accusations that his government was responsible for the worsening humanitarian catastrophe. He rejected what he described as “UN lies” and asserted that secure routes for aid had always existed and are now “official.”
UN: One-Third of Gaza Going Hungry
Tom Fletcher, the UN's emergency relief coordinator, welcomed the tactical pause, noting that field teams were mobilizing to reach as many people as possible. However, the UN World Food Program warned that one-third of Gaza’s population had not eaten for days, with 470,000 people enduring "famine-like conditions" already leading to fatalities.
Despite limited aid trickling into Gaza since late May, UN agencies say Israel’s restrictions remain excessive. Road access across the Strip remains tightly controlled, hampering relief efforts.
Netanyahu Under Pressure
The Israeli decision follows mounting international criticism. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Netanyahu to provide immediate humanitarian access to the "starving civilian population in Gaza."
Netanyahu, speaking at an Israeli airbase, accused the UN of fabricating “pretexts and lies” about aid blockades, declaring, “There have always been secure routes… Today it’s official. There will be no more excuses.”
Since Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza aid on March 2, conditions in the enclave have deteriorated drastically. Over 100 NGOs recently warned of “mass starvation.”
Aid Arrives Amid Chaotic Scenes
Jordan’s military said its aircraft, operating alongside the United Arab Emirates, delivered 25 tons of aid across three parachute drops. According to AFP reports, truckloads of flour also entered northern Gaza through the Zikim area crossing from Israel.
Still, humanitarian experts are skeptical that airdrops alone can adequately address the crisis affecting over two million Gazans. “Starvation won't be solved by a few trucks or airdrops,” said Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam’s regional policy chief. “We need a permanent ceasefire, full access, all crossings open, and a steady, large-scale flow of aid.”
In Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa district, 30-year-old Suad Ishtaywi said her “life’s wish” was simply to feed her children, recounting how her husband returns daily from aid points empty-handed.
At the site of Israel’s first food drop, AFP reported chaotic scenes. Samih Humeid, 23, from the Al-Karama neighborhood, said people rushed the supplies, describing it as “a war… Hunger is merciless.” He managed to secure just three cans of fava beans.
Israeli Military Announces Limited Ceasefire Window
The Israeli army said it would implement a daily ceasefire window from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in areas where no combat operations are currently underway—specifically Al-Mawasi in the south, central Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City in the north. Designated secure routes are to be opened for aid convoys carrying food and medicine.
The Israeli army claimed these steps counter “the false claim of deliberate starvation.”
However, international skepticism remains high. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing “reasonable grounds” to suspect war crimes, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare—allegations Israel firmly denies.
Violence Continues
According to the Gaza civil defense agency, Israeli fire on Sunday killed 27 Palestinians, including 12 near aid distribution points. Due to media restrictions and access issues, AFP stated it could not independently verify these figures.
Meanwhile, the Israeli navy intercepted and boarded the Handala, an activist vessel from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, attempting to breach the maritime blockade. The boat was escorted to Ashdod port. Legal group Adalah said its lawyers met with 19 of the 21 detained activists and journalists; two dual US-Israeli nationals were transferred to police custody.
Death Toll Continues to Rise
Israel launched its military campaign after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures cited by AFP. Since then, the Israeli campaign has resulted in the deaths of 59,733 Palestinians—most of them civilians—according to Gaza’s health ministry.
As starvation looms and diplomatic condemnation grows, Sunday’s airdrops, while symbolically significant, highlight the scale of the crisis and the urgent need for a comprehensive humanitarian response.
