Israel-Hamas war: assistance drop in Gaza results in a parachute failing, leaving five dead and several injured.
At least ten people were hurt and five people died on Friday when a pallet collided with a group of people waiting for food in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza due to a humanitarian airdrop's parachute failing to open. The injured were reportedly sent to the Al-Shifa hospital.
Although the US and Jordanian military have refuted claims that planes from their nation are to blame for the deaths, news agency AFP stated that it is thought that the aid was provided in collaboration with Belgium, Egypt, France, and the Netherlands.
After the event, the aid airdrops were criticized by the Gaza government media office, which described them as "useless" and "flashy propaganda rather than humanitarian service." It further demanded that food be able to cross land borders. The Gaza government issued a statement, which AFP quoted, saying, "We previously warned it poses a threat to the lives of citizens in the Gaza Strip and this is what happened today when the parcels fell on the citizens' heads."
EU and UN sending assistance by plane to Gaza :
The United Nations states that land supplies cannot be replaced by airdrops of aid into Gaza or by a proposed maritime relief route. The UN has pushed for the opening of more border crossings so that more vehicles can enter Gaza. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, voiced optimism on Friday that a maritime corridor may open on Sunday, even if there were still many unknowns regarding the operation's specifics.
Israel-Hamas war :
On October 7 of last year, Israel and Hamas went to war following an attack by Hamas that claimed the lives of about 1,200 Israelis. Israel has been attacking Gaza nonstop since then, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that his country will not go up on the conflict until it is won. The health ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, has released new data showing that over 30,000 people have died and many more have been maimed or displaced as a result of the conflict.
Negotiators from Egypt, Qatar, and Palestine are attempting to arrange a 40-day ceasefire in time for the Muslim month of Ramadan, five months into the battle. A temporary ceasefire would also increase aid to Gaza and rescue some of the prisoners taken by Hamas. But it does not include Israel.