As famine fears grip Gaza, regional and European partners ramp up humanitarian push with air and land deliveries
A convoy of 58 Emirati aid trucks rolled into Gaza this week while Royal Jordanian and Emirati military aircraft circled overhead, dropping bundles of baby formula and food parcels across the besieged strip. It marked the fourth consecutive day of joint air relief missions between the UAE and Jordan — and signaled a quiet but firm escalation in efforts to stave off what UN officials now call a looming famine.
On Wednesday alone, 16 tonnes of supplies were parachuted into areas of northern and central Gaza, where residents say shelves are empty and water pumps barely work. With this latest operation, the total aid dropped by air this week reached 73 tonnes.
Belgium, too, has announced it will soon join the airlift. In coordination with Jordan, Brussels plans to participate in a multinational effort to deliver aid by air — a rare European military role in a Middle Eastern crisis not involving direct conflict.
Airdrops multiply, but they’re still a drop in the bucket
The logistics are challenging. Gaza’s airspace is tightly controlled. Access is limited. But with ground routes either blocked or severely restricted, countries like the UAE and Jordan are increasingly relying on C-130 transport planes to do what trucks can’t.
Petra, Jordan’s state news agency, reported that two of its military aircraft worked alongside a UAE plane to deliver supplies on Wednesday. Airdrops, they said, went to “targeted zones” based on satellite analysis and coordination with international NGOs on the ground.
The planes don’t land. They circle, open rear hatches, and release cargo in guided packages that fall slowly via parachutes. The idea is speed — and reach.
But officials know it’s not enough.
“These drops help,” said a UN official in Rafah, speaking on condition of anonymity. “But the needs are massive. Gaza needs 500 tonnes of food daily. This week’s airdrops — while life-saving — cover a tiny fraction.”
Aid trucks roll in as part of UAE’s expanding convoy initiative
While aircraft take to the skies, a convoy of 58 UAE lorries entered Gaza by road this week, delivering medical kits, flour, powdered milk, and bottled water.
The shipments are part of the UAE’s longer-term land relief program launched last year, which has already delivered over 22,000 tonnes of supplies since October 2023, according to Emirati state media.
This latest convoy reportedly entered via the Kerem Shalom crossing, bypassing the more chaotic Rafah gate, which remains contested between Israeli and Egyptian authorities.
One line, but it says a lot: Land aid might be more consistent, but it’s getting harder to move.
Famine fears mount as Gaza sinks deeper into crisis
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is now beyond urgent.
UN agencies warned again this week that northern Gaza is “on the brink of famine,” with conditions deteriorating rapidly due to continued fighting, destroyed infrastructure, and restricted aid access.
A recent report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) — a globally recognized tool — placed more than half of Gaza’s population in Phase 5 conditions: Catastrophe. That’s the technical term for famine.
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1.1 million people face starvation-level hunger
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Over 80% of children under five are experiencing malnutrition
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Less than 5% of planned food deliveries were completed in northern Gaza last month
Doctors Without Borders said some clinics in Gaza City are seeing “skeletal” infants. One medic told Al Jazeera that mothers were mixing sugar and salt in water to feed their babies.
Belgium joins Jordan-led multinational aid mission
Belgium’s decision to take part in coordinated airdrops surprised some observers. Brussels has traditionally offered aid through multilateral bodies like the EU or UN — not direct military engagement, even if non-lethal.
But amid growing domestic pressure and EU frustration over Israel’s blockade policies, Belgium has opted to go a step further. In a statement released Wednesday, the Belgian Foreign Ministry said it would “participate actively” in upcoming airdrop efforts alongside Jordan, using its military transport capabilities.
Details are still being finalized. But one Belgian diplomat told The National that the mission is expected to start within “days, not weeks.”
It’s not just a diplomatic move. It’s a signal.
“This is a way of saying: if borders are blocked, we’ll go over them,” the diplomat said.
Will more countries follow?
That’s the question everyone’s asking. With Belgium stepping in, momentum might build for a wider coalition.
France has expressed interest in joining. Canada is reportedly assessing the feasibility of air operations from Cyprus. And several Nordic countries are said to be pushing within the EU for a broader logistical role in getting aid to Gaza.
But all of that depends on two things:
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Israel’s tacit approval (or at least non-interference)
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Continued safe air corridors coordinated with Jordan, the UAE, and Egypt
As of now, Israel hasn’t objected publicly to these foreign air drops — though it has expressed concern about what it calls “unauthorized shipments” falling into the hands of Hamas.
Privately, sources say Israeli officials see the limited air relief as politically useful: it reduces international pressure while allowing tight control over major aid flows.
