Planes drop humanitarian aid into Gaza Strip as Israeli fire reportedly kills at least 18

Planes dropped aid from European countries and beyond into Gaza on Saturday, though both aid groups and Palestinians say changes have been only incremental.  

The aid comes from a coalition of Jordan-led nations, including Germany, France and Spain. To circumvent restrictions on aid trucks crossing overland into Gaza, they have orchestrated parcels being dropped from the skies. 

French President Emmanuel Macron said that the first French aid drop of several tonnes of food was carried out on Friday and that more would continue over the weekend. 

Spain reportedly dropped 12 tonnes of aid deployed in 24 parachutes. This is enough for around 11,000 people, according to Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. 

Germany said 14 tonnes of food and medical aid was dropped off by plane, but German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul said that “sufficient quantities of relief supplies can only be provided to the people by land.” 

Both Italy and the Netherlands are set to begin airdropping aid into Gaza next week, according to the country’s governments. 

“We expect Israel to do more to enable humanitarian aid via land routes and to fully honour its humanitarian agreements with the EU,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp told the Dutch parliament. “The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza must end.” 

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he had given the green light to military forces for the “transport and airdrop of basic necessities to civilians in Gaza, who have been severely affected by the ongoing conflict.”  

Hunger has grown in Gaza during the past 22 months of war between Israel and Hamas because of aid restrictions, humanitarian workers warn. Experts say the “worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in Gaza.” 

Israel enforced a complete blockade on food and other supplies for two and a half months beginning in March.  

It said its objective was to increase pressure on Hamas to release dozens of hostages it has held since its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.  

Though the flow of aid resumed in May, the amount is a fraction of what aid organizations say is needed. 

Situation on the ground

At least 18 people were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza on Saturday, according to local hospitals. Eight of these people were reportedly aid seekers. 

Near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution site, Yahia Youssef, who had come to seek aid Saturday morning, described a panicked scene now grimly familiar. 

 After helping carry out three people wounded by gunshots, he said he looked around and saw many others lying on the ground bleeding.  

“It’s the same daily episode,” Youssef said.  

In response to questions about several eyewitness accounts of violence at the northernmost of the Israeli-backed American contractor’s four sites, the GHF media office said “nothing (happened) at or near our sites.”   

The group’s efforts to deliver aid to Gaza has been marred by violence and controversy. However, Israel and the GHF have said they have only fired warning shots and that the death toll of aid seekers has been exaggerated. 

An Israeli strike also hit a family house in an area between the towns of Zawaida and Deir al-Balah, killing two parents and their three children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. 

Another strike hit a tent close to the gate of a closed prison where the displaced have sheltered in Khan Younis, killing a mother and her daughter, they said.  

Israel's military did not immediately respond to questions about the strikes or deaths near the aid sites. 

Hostage's families protest to end war

Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and their supporters protested in Tel Aviv and urged their government to push harder for the release of their loved ones. 

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the region Steve Witkoff joined them a day after visiting Gaza. 

Of the 251 hostages who were abducted when Hamas led an attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, around 20 are believed to be alive in Gaza. 

The war began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people, most of them civilians. 

A subsequent Israeli offensive has to date killed over 60,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry whose figure does not distinguish between fighters and civilians.  

The Israeli military says almost 900 of its soldiers have died since the start of the war.