Amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the US for the second time, airdropped humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, The New York Times reported. US Air Force cargo planes, in a joint operation with the Jordanian Air Force, dropped 36,800 ready-to-eat meals \u201cto provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict,\u201d according to a US Central Command statement.<\/p>\n
In a statement, US Central Command said that army troops trained in aerial delivery were part of the airdrop. The US forces further said that they were planning more such missions. However, the Pentagon said on Tuesday that the US did not intend to send its troops into Gaza to strengthen the aid distribution process. While addressing a news conference, Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder said, \u201cAt this time, there are no plans to put U.S. forces on the ground in Gaza,\u201d The New York Times reported.<\/p>\n
The US\u2019 operation on Tuesday comes days after the first round of airdrops on Saturday. The US airdropped the first round of humanitarian aid into Gaza, two days after more than 100 Palestinians were killed as Israeli forces opened fire around a convoy of aid trucks in northern Gaza. Doctors at Gaza hospitals said the majority of casualties were from gunfire. The Israeli military said the majority of the victims were trampled as they attempted to take control of the cargo.<\/p>\n
Israeli officials, however, admitted that troops had fired on some people who they said had threatened them, according to The New York Times report. Following the convoy casualties in Gaza, US President Joe Biden said the US would find new ways to provide aid to Palestinians in desperate need due to Israel\u2019s counter-offensive against Hamas, which began after the terrorist group\u2019s attack on October 7.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, US Vice President Kamala Harris called for an \u201cimmediate ceasefire\u201d in Gaza, which she stressed must last for at least the next six weeks. Terming the conditions in Gaza as \u201cinhumane,\u201d Harris said that people in the region were \u201cstarving.\u201d Harris, who was in Alabama\u2019s Selma, to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, said, \u201cThe threat of Hamas poses to the people of Israel must be eliminated. And given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n
The US Vice President noted that the ceasefire will allow the release of hostages and aid will enter Gaza. She stressed that Hamas needs to agree to that deal. \u201cThis will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in. This would allow us to build something more enduring to ensure Israel is more secure and to respect the right of the Palestinian people to dignity, freedom, and self-determination,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHamas claims it wants a ceasefire. Well, there is a deal on the table. And as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal. Let\u2019s get a ceasefire. Let\u2019s reunite the hostages with their families. And let\u2019s provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza,\u201d she added. She stated that Hamas cannot control Gaza and added that the threat Hamas poses to the people of Israel must be eliminated. She further said, \u201cHamas is a brutal terrorist organization that has vowed to repeat October 7th again and again until Israel is annihilated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Terming the situation in Gaza \u201cdevastating,\u201d Harris said that they have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal feed, women giving birth to malnourished babies with little or no medical care, and children dying from malnutrition and dehydration. She further said, \u201cAs I have said many times, too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. And just a few days ago, we saw hungry, desperate people approach aid trucks, simply trying to secure food for their families after weeks of nearly no aid reaching Northern Gaza. And they were met with gunfire and chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n
The US Vice President stated that the people in Gaza are \u201cstarving\u201d and the conditions there are \u201cinhumane.\u201d She reiterated the US\u2019 commitment to urgently provide more lifesaving assistance to innocent Palestinians in need. \u201cOur hearts break for the victims of that horrific tragedy and for all the innocent people in Gaza who are suffering from what is clearly a humanitarian catastrophe. People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane. And our common humanity compels us to act,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n
She also called on the Israeli government to make more efforts to increase the flow of aid into Gaza. She said that Israel must open new border crossings and not impose any restrictions on the delivery of aid.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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