Israel has resumed airdrops of humanitarian aid over Gaza and announced the establishment of corridors for United Nations convoys, according to a military spokesperson. The Israeli forces stated they are prepared to implement ‘humanitarian pauses’ in densely populated areas, though no specific timeline or locations were provided.
The decision comes amid worsening conditions in Gaza, where over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2 million displaced since October 2023, according to reports. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that ‘airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation’ in the region.
Despite the aid measures, the Israeli military emphasised that combat operations ‘have not ceased’. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said: ‘We will continue to operate in Gaza to return all hostages and to defeat Hamas, both above and below ground.’
The United Arab Emirates also announced it would restart aid drops, with Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan stating: ‘The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical and unprecedented level. Air drops are resuming once more, immediately.’
Separately, the Lebanese health ministry reported three deaths from Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, despite a ceasefire. The Israeli military said it targeted a Hezbollah commander involved in rebuilding the group near the border.
