The Guardian joined a Jordanian military airdrop over Gaza on Tuesday, offering a rare aerial view of the devastation wrought by Israel’s offensive. From above, the territory resembled the ruins of an ancient civilisation, with shattered buildings, craters and roads leading nowhere. The flight carried three tonnes of aid amid a worsening famine, as Israel has barred foreign journalists from entering Gaza since the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023.
Israel resumed coordinated humanitarian airdrops last week after mounting international pressure over severe shortages of food and medical supplies. The Guardian’s flight provided a glimpse of a landscape largely sealed off from international media—a decision unprecedented in modern conflict.
Meanwhile, the long-running scandal surrounding disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced after the New York Times published previously unseen letters to Epstein from high-profile figures, including film-maker Woody Allen. The letters, compiled as a birthday gift for Epstein in 2016, describe dinners at his Manhattan mansion attended by “several young women”.
The renewed scrutiny comes as Donald Trump, who has had documented ties to Epstein, vowed to release information related to the investigations. However, the administration reversed course in July, prompting bipartisan outrage.
