Israel Airdrops Food Into Gaza, Critics Say It’s Vastly Insufficient

Israel began airdropping food into the Gaza Strip over the weekend, following mounting international criticism over its restrictions on aid and reports of mass starvation, with global leaders urging a ceasefire to end a “humanitarian catastrophe,” the Washington Post reported.  

On Saturday, the Israeli military said it conducted its first direct airdrop operation into Gaza, delivering seven pallets of flour, sugar, and canned food using aircraft loaded in Jordan. 

The Israel Defense Forces said Saturday that the airdrops and other measures were “aimed at improving the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, and to refute the false claim of deliberate starvation in the Gaza Strip.” 

An Israeli military official said that Gaza was facing a “lack of food security” but denied a famine existed. 

Israeli officials also said electricity would be restored to Gaza’s only functioning desalination plant that was previously shut down in March, according to Sky News. 

Meanwhile, critics, including aid agencies, the United Nations, and numerous countries around the world, described the weekend airdrops as insufficient and potentially dangerous, citing past incidents in which food pallets killed civilians.  

UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) chief Philippe Lazzarini also said the move was “expensive, inefficient, and a distraction,” insisting that only the full lifting of the blockade would address what he described as “manmade hunger.”  

The World Food Programme reported nearly one-third of Gazans had not eaten for several days, with more than 68,000 tons of food needed monthly – equivalent to 120 aid trucks per day. 

The airdrops come amid ongoing global condemnation over the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been decimated after nearly two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas. 

Israel has been under intense pressure after it blocked food and medicine from entering the enclave starting in March, saying aid was benefiting Hamas – a claim rejected by both Western and UN officials. 

In late May, Israel allowed the resumption of some aid deliveries, mainly through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an organization created by former US intelligence and defense officials in consultation with Israel that has come under heavy criticism from international aid groups and others. 

The US State Department said the group’s track record for aid delivery was “absolutely incredible.” But the GHF has been criticized for delivering insufficient aid and at distribution sites that have frequently seen deadly stampedes as Palestinians fight for food. Also, more than 800 Palestinians have been killed attempting to get food at the distribution sites after Israeli soldiers fired into crowds.  

Israeli military officials say they are reviewing allegations of shooting and acknowledge that their soldiers fire “warning shots” at approaching crowds. 

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas stalled again this week after both sides withdrew delegations from Egypt and Qatar-led negotiations, Reuters added.  

Officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, blamed Hamas for the impasse, claiming the group rejected the latest US-backed proposal. Hamas, however, insisted it had submitted a viable counter-offer and accused Israel of undermining the talks for political reasons.