The United Arab Emirates, in collaboration with Jordan and
regional partners, has conducted airdrops over Gaza for the third day running,
delivering thousands of tonnes of vital humanitarian aid. These missions—part
of the “Birds of Goodness” and “Operation Chivalrous Knight 3”—come amid
mounting international concern over starvation in Gaza and a partial pause in
hostilities.
UAE’s Humanitarian Commitment Under Spotlight as Aid Flights Continue Over Gaza
As reported by the editorial staff of Dubai Eye 103.8, the
UAE, working with Jordan, has completed its 56th airdrop under the “Birds of
Goodness” initiative, marking three consecutive days of relief flights into the
Gaza Strip. This is part of the broader “Operation Chivalrous Knight 3,”
an effort reflecting the UAE’s ongoing commitment to supporting Palestinians
amidst dire humanitarian needs, particularly in areas unreachable by ground
convoys due to conflict and security challenges.
According to Gulf Today’s staff report, the latest airdrop brought the total aid delivered since the initiative’s inception to approximately 3,763 tonnes of essential food and relief items, transported using 195 aircraft. Similarly, Sharjah24’s reporting reinforced that the operation continues to underscore the UAE’s
“steadfast support for the Palestinian people”.
What Aid Is Being Delivered and How Is It Coordinated?
According to Gulf News and WAM (Emirates News Agency), each
airdrop consists of basic food supplies and critical relief items vital for survival
in Gaza’s isolated areas. The operation has heavily involved Jordan as a
partner, and, for the first time during this series of missions, Egypt also
joined the airdrops with the delivery of 52 pallets of supplies in northern and
southern Gaza—each pallet carrying about a tonne of aid—according to The Times
of Israel and Caliber.Az's Aghakazim Guliyev.
Aircraft deployed in the missions mainly include military
cargo planes such as C-130s operated by Jordan and the UAE, sometimes in
cooperation with Israel for secure airspace and ground clearance.
What Do Regional and International Responses Suggest?
The Turkish news agency Caliber.Az transmitted a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), declaring,
“This operation is being conducted in accordance with directives from the political echelon and led by COGAT [the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories],”
highlighting regional collaboration on humanitarian objectives. An IDF spokesperson also asserted,
“The IDF will continue to work in order to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, along with the international community, while refuting the false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza”.
On Sunday, as covered by Reuters, Israel initiated a temporary 10-hour daily pause in military operations in certain areas of Gaza to ease the creation of new humanitarian corridors, coinciding with airdrops from Jordan and the UAE. However, a Jordanian government source, as quoted by Reuters and ITV News’ Emma Murphy, cautioned,
“Airdrops do not replace ground transportation methods and must not be seen as sufficient”.
Are There Risks and Criticisms Surrounding Airdrop Missions?
The BBC and Sky News have both reported substantial concern from UN agencies and aid groups about the risks and limitations of airdrop solutions. Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner-general, said airdrops are
“expensive, inefficient & can even kill starving civilians,”
further
describing them as a “desperate last resort” when ground access is blocked.
Indeed, The Independent’s coverage noted that according to
Palestinian health officials, at least ten people have been injured by falling
packages in recent days. Aid groups also warn that delivered food is not
always reaching the most vulnerable, and mass hunger persists, with one in
three Gazans not eating for days at a time. The United Nations World Food
Programme and WHO have repeated calls for broader accessibility via sustained
ceasefires and road corridors as the most effective solution.
What Has the Mortality and Health Impact Been in Gaza?
Reporting by ITV News and the BBC referenced statements by
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which claimed that at least 133 people,
including 87 children, have died from malnutrition since the onset of the war. Hundreds
more have been killed seeking aid at distribution points. UN agencies estimate
that some 470,000 people face famine-like conditions, with Jordan’s military
and charitable organisations stressing the urgent need to reach as many people
as possible.
What Are the UAE and Jordan’s Future Plans for Gaza Aid?
On Monday, according to Arab News and the Jordanian Petra News Agency, Jordan announced two new airdrops, bringing the total to 128 independent and 268 joint missions involving several allies, including the UK and France. The UAE reaffirmed through Sharjah24 and Gulf News that it will
“continue working with regional and international partners to ensure that aid reaches those in need across Gaza through all available means, in line with its longstanding humanitarian approach”.
Jordan and the UAE stress that their humanitarian engagement will persist as long as the needs in Gaza remain critical, with ongoing evaluation as the situation on the ground evolves.
Humanitarian airdrops over Gaza, led by the UAE and Jordan,
represent an ongoing, urgent international response to a deepening crisis.
Despite logistical and safety challenges, the continued missions underscore the
regional effort to support the Palestinian population amid dire blockade
conditions and ongoing conflict. However, with aid agencies overwhelmingly
warning that airdrops alone cannot remedy Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, only
a stable ceasefire and full land access appear to offer genuine prospects for
relief.