WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. military C-130 cargo plane dropped food More than 100 Palestinians rushed to pull supplies from aid convoys on Saturday, loading them onto pallets over Gaza in the early stages of an emergency humanitarian response approved by President Joe Biden. Killed during chaotic battle with Israeli forces.
Three Central Air Forces planes dropped 66 bundles containing approximately 38,000 meals into Gaza at 8:30 a.m. ET (3:30 p.m. local time). The bundle was dropped on the coast of the Mediterranean coast southwest of Gaza. The air drop was coordinated with the Jordanian Air Force, which announced it carried out two food air drops in northern Gaza on Saturday and several food drops in recent months.
“This joint operation included U.S. Air Force and RJAF C-130 aircraft, as well as Army soldiers from each that specializes in airlifting supplies, to form bundles and ensure the safe drop of food aid.” The military previously stated in a post to 'X'. It is known as Twitter.
America air drop It is expected to be the first of many.
Three Biden administration officials have announced that aircraft will be storing military meal-ready-to-eat (MRE) (a day's worth of calories in sealed packages) in locations believed to provide the highest level of security accessible to civilians. He said he had dropped non-perishable meals (including non-perishable meals). assistance. The U.S. then monitored the scene and saw civilians approaching and distributing food, officials said. The officials provided additional information that has not been made public on condition of anonymity.
President Joe Biden said Friday that the United States will begin airlifting food to starving Gazans after Thursday's attack killed at least 115 Palestinians seeking relief and injured hundreds more. Then he announced. Ministry of Health in Gaza under Hamas rule Said.
Hundreds of people rushed in about 30 trucks to deliver aid to the north starting before dawn. Palestinians said nearby Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd. Israel said it fired warning shots into the crowd and claimed many of the dead were trampled.
White House National Security Press Secretary John Kirby said Friday that airdrops are planned to deliver emergency humanitarian aid to people on the ground in a safe manner. The United States believes airdrops can help address the dire situation in the Gaza Strip, but Thursday's events also showed the risks of ground transport, while airdrops can more effectively transport more aid. It is not a replacement for a truck that can.
Kirby said airdrops have an advantage over trucks because planes can move aid to specific locations very quickly. However, from a volume perspective, airdrops will “complement, not replace, ground transportation.”
C-130 is widely used It can land in harsh environments and deliver aid to remote areas.
The C-130 can airlift up to 42,000 pounds of cargo, and crews know how to load the cargo, which sometimes also includes vehicles, onto huge pallets that can be safely unloaded from the back of the aircraft.
In this screenshot taken from a video and released by the Israeli military on Thursday, February 29, 2024, Palestinians surround an aid truck in northern Gaza, a day before officials said it was the first mass attack in a month. He explained that it was a large-scale transportation of goods. (IDF via AP)
Air Force loadmasters secure the bundles to pallets with nets rigged for release in the rear of the C-130, and crew members release the bundles with parachutes once the aircraft reaches the intended delivery zone.
The Air Force's C-130s have been used to airdrop humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti and other locations over the years, with the aircraft airdropping pallets of toys, supplies and supplies. It is used in the annual multinational joint Operation Christmas Drop. Delivering non-perishable food and fishing supplies to remote areas in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.
Since the war began on October 7, Israel has barred entry of food, water, medicine and other supplies, except for small amounts of aid entering the south from Egypt at the Rafah crossing and the Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel. ing.
The United Nations says a quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million people face hunger. Aid officials say airdrops are not an efficient means of distributing aid and are a last resort.
