Germany joins international effort for airdropping aid into Gaza

• The operation, initiated by Jordan, involves several other countries.
• Germany's part of a joint German-French air transport squadron will be deployed.
• The operation could begin by the end of this week.

On Wednesday, Germany announced its participation in an air bridge operation, alongside several other countries, to drop desperately needed humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The operation, initiated by Jordan, already involves several other countries including France and the United States.

The defense ministry announced that it would deploy the German part of a joint German-French air transport squadron to participate in the mission. The ministry stated that the team, equipped with C-130J Hercules transport planes, could begin Germany's operation as soon as the end of this week.

“The people in Gaza are lacking the most necessities. We want to do our part to ensure that they get access to food and medicine,” said Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

After a parachuted airdrop turned lethal on March 8, the minister attempted to allay fears.

“The truth is that airdrops are not without danger. The crews responsible are trained for the relevant procedures and highly experienced,” he said.

Aid groups report that only a fraction of the supplies required to meet basic humanitarian needs have been allowed into Gaza since October. As help entering Gaza by truck remains significantly below pre-war levels and with Gazans growing increasingly desperate, foreign governments are resorting to airdrops and are currently attempting to open a maritime aid corridor from Cyprus.

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