Overview

• Israel’s military announced it will allow Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to resume parachute airdrops of food and essential goods into the Gaza Strip for the first time since last year.
• Exact launch dates remain uncertain, with Israeli press reporting that operations could begin within days.
• Israeli officials say the airdrops will relieve limited shortages while denying widespread hunger and accusing UN agencies of inflating the crisis.
• Humanitarian groups warn that parachute drops are costly, inefficient and have previously caused civilian casualties when supplies fell off course.
• Diplomatic tensions over aid policy and Palestinian recognition have intensified following France’s recognition of Palestine and U.S. accusations that the UN is aiding Hamas.