Jordan and UAE Launch Aid Drops as Israel Halts Attacks in Gaza

Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have initiated aid drops into the Gaza Strip as the humanitarian situation in the region grows increasingly dire. Following international pressure, Israel announced it would suspend military operations for ten hours each day in select areas of Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. This decision comes after images of starving Palestinians have raised alarms globally.

From 10:00 to 20:00 daily, military activities will cease in designated humanitarian zones, including Al-Mawasi, central Deir al-Balah, and northern Gaza City. During these pauses, secure routes will be established for aid convoys delivering essential food and medicine from 06:00 to 23:00, starting on October 29, 2023.

In a remarkable effort, Jordan and the UAE successfully parachuted 25 tons of aid into Gaza, marking the first air drop in months. Unfortunately, Palestinian health officials reported that at least 10 individuals sustained injuries from falling aid boxes in Gaza City.

International organizations have welcomed Israel’s decision but emphasize the need for a broader ceasefire to ensure that aid reaches all those in need. UNICEF described the situation as “an opportunity to save lives,” while Dr. Muneer al-Boursh, the director general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, called for an influx of medical supplies and other necessities to combat child malnutrition.

He stated, “This humanitarian truce will mean nothing if it doesn’t turn into a real opportunity to save lives. Every delay is measured by another funeral.”

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher indicated that aid staff would enhance efforts to feed those suffering during the designated pauses. “Our teams on the ground will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window,” he noted in a statement on social media.

As aid efforts ramp up, reports of violence continue to emerge. Health officials at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Hospitals noted that Israeli fire killed at least 17 individuals and injured 50 others who were awaiting aid trucks on the same day Israel announced its military pause. The Israeli military has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding these incidents.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been exacerbated by severe malnutrition, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting six additional deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 133 fatalities, including 87 children.

International calls for Israel to address the humanitarian disaster are intensifying, particularly as US-led peace talks in Qatar faced interruptions. Washington’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, criticized Hamas for its “lack of desire to reach a ceasefire.”

The proposed deal under discussion includes a 60-day ceasefire, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in phases, in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Aid supplies are expected to increase, and both sides would negotiate a lasting truce as part of the agreement.

As the situation evolves, the urgency for a sustainable resolution becomes ever more critical, with the humanitarian needs of the people in Gaza remaining paramount.