UK part of an international aid drop into Gaza
Nine countries including Britain have carried out the largest international aid airdrop into Gaza since the conflict began, as the Israeli prime minister escalated his pledge to invade the southern city of Rafah.
Led by the Jordanian Armed Forces and coinciding with Eid al-fitr to mark the end of Ramadan, hundreds of tonnes of resources were delivered into the war-torn enclave.
The US, Germany, France, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and Egypt also took part, the Ministry of Defence said. The operation, which the MOD said is the biggest international aid drop on a single day since the war began last October, came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “there is a date” for the planned invasion of Rafah.
Israel’s closest ally, the US, has joined the international community in opposing the incursion and demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians.
Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly said the country must send ground forces into Rafah, saying it is Hamas’s last stronghold in Gaza.
An RAF A400M plane flew yesterday from Amman, Jordan to airdrop more than 10 tonnes of aid, including readyto-eat meals, water and rice, along the northern coastline of Gaza.
The flight took about an hour, with other countries’ aircraft dropping aid throughout the course of the day.
Lord Cameron, who is visiting Washington DC, where he is expected to face questions about arms exports to Israel during a press conference, said Britain would “continue to push Israel as hard as we can” to boost aid access.
In a statement, the Foreign Secretary said: “Led by our Jordanian partners, we have joined nations around the world to mark the end of Ramadan by getting life-saving aid into Gaza. Thousands of people in desperate need will benefit from this united effort.
“The UK remains ready to play its part in getting supplies in by land, air and sea, but the people of Gaza need more.
“We continue to push Israel as hard as we can to get more aid across the border and delivered throughout the region. Words must turn into action — this is essential to avoid an even more severe humanitarian crisis.”
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The prospect of famine in Gaza is real and today’s international airdrop will provide life-saving food supplies for civilians.
“This is the sixth RAF airdrop in recent weeks, delivering over 53 tonnes of aid, including water, flour and baby formula.
“After six months of war in Gaza, the toll on civilians continues to grow. We continue to stand by Israel's right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists, who have failed the people of Gaza and hide behind civilians.
“This terrible conflict must end. The hostages must be released and the aid must flood in."
Sunday marked six months since the war began and almost a week since seven aid workers, including three British nationals, were killed in an Israeli air strike.
The prospect of famine in Gaza is real and today’s international airdrop will provide lifesaving food supplies for civilians Grant Shapps