Over 10 Tonnes of Essential Supplies Delivered Amid Growing Crisis

For the first time, the UK has deployed an airdrop of crucial humanitarian aid into Gaza, including over 10 tonnes of water, rice, cooking oil, flour, tinned food, and baby formula. The Royal Air Force executed the mission on Monday, marking a significant step in the ongoing efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn region.

An RAF A400M aircraft flew from Amman, Jordan, and dropped the supplies along Gaza’s northern coastline as part of a Jordanian-led international mission. This delivery comes after a comprehensive assessment of the safety risks to both military personnel and civilians.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps authorised the mission as part of a broader effort to escalate humanitarian support to Gaza, with the UK already tripling its aid budget for the region. He expressed the urgency of increased aid access, urging Israel to provide port access and open more land crossings.

The airdrop follows the UK’s backing of a UN Security Council call for a ceasefire in Gaza and a resolution aimed at halting the fighting, particularly during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

This is the first airdrop mission conducted by the UK, though Britain has previously supported international airdrop operations by providing parachutes at the request of Jordan and Bahrain.