Reuters: Trump not considering US air drops of aid to Gaza

During President Joe Biden's administration, the US military conducted significant food airdrops into Gaza, delivering approximately 1,220 tons of humanitarian assistance to the enclave. However, according to US officials and other sources, the option of airdrops has not been seriously considered by Donald Trump's administration, despite his public expressions of concern over starvation in Gaza amid Israel's nearly two-year old war against Hamas.

One source described to Reuters airdrops as an unrealistic solution given the scale of Gaza’s needs, Caliber.Az cites. 

"It is seen as an unrealistic option because airdrops would not come close to meeting the needs of 2.1 million Palestinians," the source explained. This approach contrasts with several close US allies, including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Britain, who have carried out airdrops of aid into Gaza. 

Humanitarian organisations have often criticised airdrops as largely symbolic and inadequate, emphasising that Gaza requires open land routes to allow large volumes of aid to enter. Aid groups also warn that heavy aid packages descending by parachute could pose dangers to civilians rushing to collect them.

“It just hasn't been part of the discussions,” a US official said on condition of anonymity, referring to internal deliberations in the Trump administration. Another source added, "It hasn’t been a serious consideration because it’s not really a serious option at this moment."

US officials who simulated the airdrop option reportedly concluded that “it's absolutely unrealistic,” with uncertainty over how much “lift capacity” could be achieved, even if Israel approved US use of its airspace.

A diplomatic source, also speaking anonymously, said he was unaware of any US interest in joining international airdrop efforts. Furthermore, an official from a US-allied country involved in airdrops noted there had been no talks with Washington about participating, nor was the United States providing logistical support.

When asked for comment, a White House official stated that the administration remained open to “creative solutions” regarding aid delivery. 

“President Trump has called for creative solutions 'to help the Palestinians' in Gaza. We welcome any effective effort that delivers food to Gazans and keeps it out of the hands of Hamas,” the official said.

Israel began permitting food airdrops into Gaza in late July, amid growing global concern about the humanitarian toll of the ongoing conflict. Trump has supported the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in distributing aid, pledging cooperation with other countries to provide food and sanitation assistance. 

However, he has also expressed frustration with Hamas, warning that its leaders would be "hunted down," and asserting on July 26 that “Hamas really didn't want to make a deal. I think they want to die. And it's very bad. And it got to be to a point where you're going to have to finish the job.”

International pressure on Israel is intensifying due to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While GHF’s aid operation has distribution points only in southern Gaza, the group has faced criticism from aid organisations and the United Nations, which labelled its efforts as dangerous and ineffective.

Gaza health authorities report that as the death toll from nearly two years of war approaches 60,000, starvation and malnutrition claim an increasing number of lives, with images of starving children galvanising international condemnation of Israel’s policies.

During his administration, Biden ordered the US military to build a temporary pier off Gaza to facilitate aid deliveries in response to mounting calls from Democrats to address humanitarian suffering. Announced during a March 2024 address to Congress, the project involved approximately 1,000 US military personnel and was described as the largest aid delivery effort ever conducted by the US military in the Middle East.

Despite the scale of the operation, the pier was only operational for about 20 days and cost roughly $230 million. Bad weather and logistical challenges inside Gaza significantly limited its effectiveness.

By Sabina Mammadli