News item | 08-08-2025 | 20:00
Defense today dropped around 14.5 tons of relief supplies in Gaza. It was about food, drinking water and medical devices. The AirDrop was equipped with a C-130 Hercules transport plane. The Netherlands will deliver emergency aid through air for the next 2 weeks. The load from this 1st flight landed in a predetermined drop zone in Gaza.
The Palestinians in Gaza need large -scale help. Due to the catastrophic food situation and the problems with regard to the access of help about land, the government also decided to provide assistance through the air. These airdrops are therefore not a replacement for, but a supplement to the efforts aimed at crucial humanitarian access about land. At Israel, the Dutch government continues to allow auxiliary kon voyes by road to Gaza. That is the safest and most efficient way to help the starving people in Gaza. In addition, help through the road is possible on a much larger scale than through the air.
The auxiliary packages were supplied by Jordan. Defense also carries out the flights from this country. The 16 bundles were equipped with parachutes and were thrown from the low -flying aircraft of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
The costs of the Dutch operation are covered through Foreign Affairs from funds for development cooperation and international safety. The Royal Netherlands Air Force carries out the AirDrops. That happens with the expertise of soldiers from the Airmobile Brigade.
Weather conditions play a role in the safe drop of a load. Furthermore, a location and the time to perform a drop as accurately and safely as possible is taken into account. If that is at stake, it can be decided not to throw.
The aid operation above Gaza is done with international partners. Belgium, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Arab Emirates are also participating.