Recent humanitarian supply airdrops into Gaza have drawn harsh criticism from the UN, which views them as a poor solution to a growing famine situation made worse by Israel’s continuous embargo.
Nearly half a million people in Gaza are currently experiencing famine-like circumstances due to the catastrophic levels of hunger, and a third of the population goes without food on a daily basis. According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, out of the 74 deaths in 2025 that were caused by malnutrition, 63 happened in July alone, including the terrible loss of 24 children under the age of five.
The organization emphasized that the situation is still completely avoidable and that many lives have been lost as a result of willful obstruction and postponement of extensive food, medical, and humanitarian assistance.
Several nations, notably Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, have started parachuting assistance supplies into Gaza in spite of these warnings—the first airdrops in months. Aid agencies, however, have denounced this technique as a hideous diversion that fails to address the underlying causes of famine.
Another act of dehumanization and humiliation against Palestinians is the airdrop of aid into the #GazaStrip. It is intentionally employed to support Israel’s policy of mass starvation, putting civilians who are crammed into less than 15% of the enclave in risk aspic.twitter.com/xcq1c6zQRO.
July 28, 2025, Euro-Med Monitor (@EuroMedHR)
The UNRWA commissioner-general, Philippe Lazzarini, criticized the airdrops as costly, ineffective, and potentially fatal for malnourished populations. It is both screensmoke and a distraction. Only political will can address hunger caused by humans. Lift the siege, open the gates, and ensure that those in need can move safely and with dignity.
Packages of food and necessities are parachuted from aircraft during airdrops, which are usually saved for last when relief cannot be delivered by land. Ideally, personnel on the ground are prepared to pick them up at designated points.
But the enormous risks of this approach in the heavily populated area of Gaza are raising serious concerns. According to Jacob Burns, regional operations manager for M Decins Sans Fronti, humanitarian organizations caution that it is unsafe to aim a pallet of aid.
“In Gaza, aid drops have already killed people,” he continued. These dangers were cruelly brought to light last year when an aid package fell straight onto people below after a parachute reportedly failed, killing five people.
In addition to the possibility of bodily damage, the desperation of the starving population causes dangerous crowds to rush toward food that has been dropped. The strongest will prevail in this scenario, Burns continued. “If you’re starving and suddenly you see food drop out of the sky, obviously you’re going to run towards that aid.”
Burns went on to say, “If you’re just throwing aid into the Gaza Strip randomly, then you have no idea who can control that.” This instability creates more issues. Sean Bell, a military analyst, added that some aid that was airdropped has already been stolen by thieves and sold illegally.
New actions to enhance Gaza’s humanitarian response:
Aid will be airdropped again. Seven pallets of relief, including flour, sugar, and canned food, are part of the airdrop.designated humanitarian to allow UN convoys carrying food and medication to travel safely.tweet.com/bCqCnI1HGL
July 26, 2025, Israel Defense Forces (@IDF)
He also noted the inherent risks for planes flying over conflict areas. There is a serious risk that these packages would strike people when they land, and the amount of aid that can be dropped is sadly insufficient because an aircraft can only carry one truckload of aid. 500 truckloads per day, or 0.2% of the daily requirement, are needed in Gaza.
