Nearly 10,000 kg of Aid Dropped by Canadian Military Plane
On Monday, the Canadian Armed Forces carried out their first humanitarian airdrop over Gaza, delivering 9,800 kilograms of vital food supplies to Palestinians in desperate need. Using a CC-130J Hercules aircraft operating from a Jordanian airbase, Canada joined five other nations in this coordinated effort to ease the worsening hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Humanitarian Access Severely Restricted
Global Affairs Canada emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that “access to humanitarian aid in Gaza is severely restricted and humanitarian needs have reached an unprecedented level.” Ongoing restrictions imposed by the Israeli government have made land delivery of food and medical aid extremely challenging for international partners.
Multinational Effort Includes Jordan, UAE, Egypt, Germany, and Belgium
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that 120 aid packages were airdropped by six countries — Canada, Jordan, the UAE, Egypt, Germany, and Belgium. France and Spain have also contributed to airdrops over recent days, demonstrating broad international cooperation to address the crisis.
On the Ground: Chaos and Desperation at Aid Sites
CBC News freelance videographer Mohamed El Saife captured dramatic scenes of Palestinians rushing to the aid drop site in Nuseirat, central Gaza. Crowds pushed and scrambled for food supplies, with some children climbing over the desperate throng. One resident, Muhammad Ammar, described the scene as humiliating and heartbreaking, saying, “Everyone is cutting and killing people because they torment us. They don’t want us to eat.”
Canadian Government Calls for Greater Aid Access
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Defence Minister David McGuinty released a joint statement highlighting Canada’s commitment to “taking exceptional measures” alongside international partners. They called for a “dramatic scale-up” in humanitarian assistance and urged for safe, unimpeded access for aid organizations, including expedited customs approvals and visa facilitation for aid workers.
Previous Aid Efforts and Next Steps
This airdrop follows earlier Canadian aid shipments sent via Jordan, which borders Israel and the West Bank. Minister Anand has stated that trucks loaded with Canadian aid stand ready to enter Gaza, pending Israeli authorization. The Canadian government continues to advocate for increased humanitarian corridors to reach those in urgent need.
