Date of Release: July 27 2025 Jordan and UAE made joint aerial aid drops into Gaza Strip last Wednesday in response to worsening humanitarian situation, providing over 25 tons of food and supplies. Reuters The Times of Israel And Jordan Times.
C-130 aircraft operated by both the Royal Jordanian Air Force and UAE Air Force were used in these missions, in close coordination with Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation and international relief agencies; according to Jordan Times/The National.
Catalyst: Israel’s New Humanitarian Measures
The drop followed Israel’s announcement of daily tactical pauses across three key regions in Gaza–Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Al-Mawasi–from 10 am to 8 pm each day between July 28 and August 16 for aid delivery purposes from 10 am until 8 pm; these were scheduled at 10 am in Gaza City, Deir al Balah and Al Mawasi from 10 am until 8 pm each day between July 28 to August 16. AP News +8 for details. Reuters (+8) for details;
Israeli troops also established secure ground corridors between 6am and 11pm for UN aid convoys between 6a.m. and 11pm (Reuters/AP News)
U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher confirmed to Reuters +1 that UN teams would increase distribution efforts during these “windows of humanitarian access”. For The National, this was reported as being confirmed.
Strategic Purpose and Limitations
Jordanian officials stressed the necessity of these airdrops as immediate relief, rather than a replacement for land-based aid that remains more scalable and efficient; an airdrop did not replace land aid in terms of scale or efficiency, according to both AP News (+7) and Reuters (+7) reports, nor the Jordan Times.
Aid experts and the UN have long criticized airdrops as costly, risky, and susceptible to misdistribution; The Guardian + 2 Washington Post | AP News and so forth have voiced similar sentiments.
Reports indicate that at least 10 people were injured by falling aid boxes during this operation (Reuters + Wikipedia =+1), according to local sources.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens With dire conditions roiling Gaza, and with reports that at least 133 malnutrition-related deaths – including 87 children from malnourishment- related deaths reported within 24 hours by Hamas-run health ministry; Sky News + The National + Reuters = reported within that period; it remains uncertain when exactly these figures may have come.
Khan Younis in Pakistan attracted international attention after five-month old daughter died of starvation due to inadequate breastfeeding care, according to The Times (TTM), Wikipedia and Reuters (RWU).
Independent aid agencies warn that rising hunger and food shortages are having a disproportionately detrimental impact on women and children, with aid deliveries either blocked by security checks at crossings or delayed. According to AP News.
Broader Aid and Political Momentum Egyptian Red Crescent deployed more than 1,200 metric tons of food via over 100 trucks through Kerem Shalom crossing into southern Gaza via aerial operations alone, according to The National. Reuters also reports on this development.
Jordan has conducted 127 airdrops independently and partnered on 267 missions since the start of war; ground convoys totaling nearly 8,000 trucks have also been sent out (AP News +8; Jordan Times +8; Wikipedia).
Pressure from around the world is building. A coalition of 25 countries–including Britain, France and Canada–condemned Israel for restricting aid deliveries to Gaza while encouraging Israel to open unimpeded land access and end their blockade of the territory, according to The Washington Post and National. They called upon it as well to lift its blockade and remove restrictions placed upon its citizens by the US and others. Reuters released this story:
Keir Starmer announced plans for further cooperation between Jordan and UK regarding airdrops and evacuations of critically ill children from Jordan Times +3 The Guardian +3
The Times. These would take place under his leadership. In total, four airdrops will occur this month between them according to Jordan Times+3, The Guardian+3 and The Times with both countries contributing resources as needed for their operation.. (STATS-IRC/STATS). In summary.
Jordan and UAE launched their inaugural joint air mission into Gaza on July 27, delivering 25 tons of humanitarian aid via parachutists from both nations. Haaretz reported it. Reuters added the mission was successful as well.
Operation Protector was carried out after Israel initiated tactical pauses and secured corridors for humanitarian convoys, according to U.S. News, Reuters, Sky News and U.K. Press Association reports.
Airdrops aim to alleviate acute hunger; however, aid officials emphasize the necessity of large-scale land deliveries as a primary form of relief.
Gaza continues to experience widespread starvation, leading to over one hundred recent deaths from starvation including many children (The Washington Post +15; AP News +2; The National +2 and Reuters both report this trend).
Critics warn of inadequacy of relief efforts despite temporary relief measures, without lifting restrictions on aid routes and initiating comprehensive ceasefire agreements (Reuters + The Washington Post + The Guardian).
The joint Jordan-UAE operation marks a rare escalation in regional humanitarian involvement – and underscores growing global concern over Gaza’s worsening condition.