Israel-Gaza: UK aid supplies air-dropped into Gaza for first time

The United Kingdom has conducted its first airdrop of aid into Gaza since the outbreak of war, following an agreement with Jordan.

On Wednesday, a Jordanian Air Force plane delivered four tonnes of supplies, including medicines, food, and fuel, into the strip.

Parachute-equipped packages descended to the Tal Al-Hawa Hospital in northern Gaza, ensuring the delivery’s precision.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron emphasised that the aid delivery would save lives and sustain essential hospital operations.

Previously, the UK had only dispatched aid to Gaza via land and sea routes. However, access to northern Gaza, severely affected by nearly five months of conflict, had become untenable.

The World Food Programme had halted its deliveries in the area due to extreme disorder and violence, citing the heavy Israeli military presence and population displacement.

Despite these challenges, approximately 300,000 Palestinians remained in northern Gaza, facing dire shortages of food and water, with the UN warning of an impending famine.

The British-Jordanian aid shipment included diesel, vital medical equipment, and ration packs for patients and medical personnel.

The Royal Jordanian Air Force Hercules aircraft executed precise manoeuvres over the Mediterranean, dropping the aid directly into northern Gaza after sunset. Each pallet, equipped with parachutes and GPS trackers, reached its designated destination near a Jordanian army field hospital in Gaza City.

The UK Foreign Office said it signed an agreement with Jordan earlier this week which will see £1m ($1.2m) worth of UK aid sent to Gaza.