The US military has announced that the United States and Jordan have conducted a new airdrop of humanitarian aid over the Gaza Strip, delivering over 11,500 meals to Palestinians.
According to the U.S. Central Command’s account on the social media platform X, the latest airdrop operation in northern Gaza included quantities of rice, flour, pasta, and canned foods. Data from the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) revealed that the United States has dropped approximately 135,000 meals in airdrop operations this month.
President Joe Biden’s stance on the recent war in Gaza has been marked by a strong support for Israel, while also expressing outrage at specific incidents such as a strike on the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. Biden has emphasized the United States’ unequivocal stand for the protection of civilian life during conflicts and has mourned the loss of life in such tragic events. Despite this, he has reiterated continued US support to Israel, describing the country as Washington’s closest ally in the Middle East.
Biden’s approach has been seen as a balance between supporting Israel’s right to defend itself, particularly after the Hamas attack on October 7, and acknowledging the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, he has avoided explicitly calling for a ceasefire or directly condemning Israel’s actions that have led to significant civilian casualties. This has led to criticism that his actions might not serve the long-term interests of either Israelis or Palestinians and could potentially undermine US national interests.
In a recent shift, Biden has voiced support for a humanitarian “pause” in Israel’s war in Gaza, marking a subtle change in the US’s position. This call for a pause was aimed at facilitating the evacuation of all Americans trapped in the besieged Palestinian enclave and was not intended as a dictate on how Israel should conduct its military operations. This stance came amidst growing pressure from various quarters, including rights activists, world leaders, and members of the Democratic Party, to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has seen a high number of casualties.
