White House mulls airdropping aid into Gaza amid worsening humanitarian crisis

In response to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the White House is contemplating the possibility of airdropping aid from US military planes, Caliber.Az reports, citing four US officials who spoke to Axios.

The move comes as land deliveries have become increasingly difficult, particularly in northern Gaza, where a threat of starvation looms.

The amount of aid reaching Gaza has halved this month compared to January, as a combination of factors hampers delivery. The withdrawal of Hamas' civilian police, targeted by Israel, created a security vacuum, leading to attacks on aid trucks. Israeli airstrikes and ongoing fighting have also made it challenging for humanitarian groups to operate, exacerbating the crisis.

The idea of U.S. airdrops was initially met with scepticism but has gained support as land-based transportation faces obstacles. Jordan's recent successful rounds of aid airdrops, in collaboration with Egypt and France, have influenced this shift in approach.

However, U.S. officials acknowledge the limited impact of airdrops, as military planes can only deliver supplies equivalent to one or two trucks. The administration emphasizes the priority of increasing land access to allow hundreds of trucks to enter Gaza daily.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power, currently in the region, met with Israeli officials to discuss aid delivery challenges. She announced an additional $53 million in humanitarian assistance and urged Israel to address red tape and bottlenecks, describing the food insecurity in Gaza as catastrophic.

While the White House remains focused on land access as the primary solution, discussions around airdrops highlight the urgency of the situation and the multifaceted efforts required to alleviate the crisis.