France launches aid airdrop to Gaza, urges Israel to open full humanitarian access VIDEO

France has begun air-dropping humanitarian aid to Gaza, delivering 40 tonnes of supplies in response to escalating famine conditions in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

President Emmanuel Macron called on Israel to allow full humanitarian access, warning of an urgent crisis, Caliber.Az reports via Reuters. 

“Faced with the absolute urgency, we have just conducted a food airdrop operation in Gaza. Thank you to our Jordanian, Emirati, and German partners for their support, as well as to our military personnel for their commitment. Airdrops are not enough. Israel must open full humanitarian access to address the risk of famine,” Macron said in a post on X.

Face à l'urgence absolue, nous venons de conduire une opération de largage de vivres à Gaza.

Merci à nos partenaires jordaniens, émiriens et allemands pour leur appui, ainsi qu’à nos militaires pour leur engagement.

Les largages ne suffisent pas.… pic.twitter.com/dEzo3GXmi8

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 1, 2025

Earlier in the day, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told broadcaster franceinfo that France was sending four separate flights carrying 10 tonnes of humanitarian aid each from Jordan.

The operation comes amid stark warnings from international organisations. A global hunger monitor reported on July 29 that famine conditions are emerging in Gaza, with rising malnutrition rates and children under five dying from hunger-related causes, while humanitarian access remains severely restricted.

According to the French presidency, France has taken part in six missions under the European Union’s humanitarian airlift launched in mid-October 2023. That airlift has so far organised more than 60 flights, delivering over 3,350 tonnes of humanitarian cargo, most of which has transited through Egypt and Jordan.

However, Macron’s office noted that part of the aid has yet to enter Gaza due to the absence of necessary approvals from Israeli authorities.

Germany also joined the aerial relief efforts on August 1, conducting its first direct humanitarian airdrop into Gaza. The German military dropped 34 pallets carrying a total of 14 tonnes of food and medical supplies. The operation was launched from a base in Jordan in coordination with regional partners Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, who have been leading the campaign.

By Sabina Mammadli