On Saturday, the air force parachuted rice and flour, along with other essentials, to the suffering population in Gaza Strip from a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The operation was approved by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Wednesday and two C-130 transport aircraft were relocated from France to Jordan for this purpose. The next delivery is scheduled for Sunday.
The Arab country of Jordan initiated the airlift, with other partners such as the USA also participating. Each German aircraft can carry up to 18 tons of cargo, and the Bundeswehr is prepared to continue providing transport and aid drops as needed. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for a rapid ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.
The logistics of dropping supplies by parachute from a C-130 are a new challenge for the Air Force, with careful planning required to ensure the safety of both those on the ground and in the aircraft. Residents in Gaza have mixed feelings about the airdrops, with some grateful for the food they have received and others feeling frustrated that they have not received any aid. There have been incidents where aid packages have landed in active combat zones, leading to dangers for those attempting to retrieve them.
The effectiveness and safety of the airdrops are under scrutiny, with critics pointing out that air transport cannot replace land transport for delivering aid. The German government has reiterated its call for Israel to allow more humanitarian aid to reach the population quickly and on a larger scale. Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to provide relief to those in need in Gaza through this new form of delivery method.
