By Jomaa Younis and Tarek Chouiref
ISTANBUL (AA) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said Saturday that it will resume humanitarian airdrops over the Israel-blockaded Gaza Strip.
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical and unprecedented level,” Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on X.
“The United Arab Emirates remains at the forefront of efforts to deliver life-saving assistance to the Palestinian people.”
The top diplomat said the UAE would ensure that essential aid reaches those in need “whether through land, air or sea.”
“Air drops are resuming once more, immediately,” he added. “Our commitment to alleviating suffering and providing support is resolute and unwavering.”
The announcement comes as famine continues to spread across Gaza due to Israel’s ongoing blockade and the systematic obstruction of humanitarian aid, which has led to the deaths of dozens of children and infants from hunger and malnutrition.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Saturday that five more Palestinians, including two children, had died within 24 hours due to famine, bringing the death toll since Oct. 7, 2023, to 127, including 85 children.
Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza for 18 years, and since March 2 has shut down all crossings, blocking the entry of aid convoys and ignoring international calls to reopen them.
Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 59,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.