Israel was not involved in inspecting the food packages airdropped over Gaza by the US and Jordan, according to the Pentagon. The Pentagon stated that the prepackaged foods were inspected before delivery, but did not provide details on the inspection process or the origin of the airplanes used for the airdrop.
The White House National Security Communications Advisor confirmed that the airdrop was a joint operation with the Jordanian Royal Air Force, delivering 38,000 meals to those in need in Gaza. Other countries like Belgium are considering similar airdrop operations to address the challenges of distributing aid on the ground during the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the government for not ensuring security in such operations. He mentioned that the US and Jordan airdrop into Gaza did not undergo a security inspection, leading to a loss of faith in the current government’s ability to manage the conflict.
Israel inspects goods entering Gaza
The Israeli office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) claimed that Israel was involved in security checks for aid packages airdropped into Gaza. However, details about the inspection process were not disclosed by COGAT, the US, or Lapid’s office.
Israel closely monitors goods entering Gaza to prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas. This includes inspections at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. The recent airdrops by Jordan and the US mark the first time non-Israeli aircraft have flown over Gaza in over two decades.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.
