Biden says US military to airdrop food and supplies into Gaza
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President Biden announced on Friday that the US would conduct humanitarian aid airdrops to Gaza.
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President Joe Biden speaks with members of the press as he leaves St. Edmund Roman Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, Del., on February 17, 2024. (AP)
US President Joe Biden announced on Friday plans to carry out a first military airdrop of food and supplies into Gaza, a day after the deaths of Palestinians queuing for aid threw a spotlight on an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in the crowded coastal enclave.
Biden mentioned that the US airdrop would occur in the upcoming days but did not provide additional details. "We need to do more and the United States will do more," Biden told reporters, adding that "aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough."
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At the White House, spokesperson John Kirby emphasized that airdrops would be part of a "sustained effort." He indicated that the initial airdrop would likely consist of military MREs, or "meals ready-to-eat."
"This isn’t going to be one and done," Kirby said.
Biden informed reporters that the US was exploring the potential of establishing a maritime corridor to deliver significant amounts of aid into Gaza. Officials stated that the airdrops could commence as early as this weekend.
Biden says he 'trusts' 'Israel' to conduct probe into Gaza aid deaths
On the other hand, according to the White House press pool, Biden informed reporters that he has "confidence" in "Israel" to carry out an impartial investigation into the deaths of over a hundred Palestinians who were killed while queuing to receive humanitarian aid in Gaza.
"Yes," Biden said on Friday when asked if he would trust an independent probe conducted by "Israel".
The White House stated that the United States has requested "Israel" to conduct an investigation but has not provided a specific deadline for its completion. It also mentioned that it's currently too early to determine if the incident will affect prisoner-captive talks.
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That said, the Israeli occupation is under increasing international pressure to conduct an investigation after over 100 Palestinians were murdered in Gaza on Thursday when desperate masses swarmed around relief vehicles and Israeli forces opened fire.
More than 110 people were killed in the massacre in al-Rasheed Street, to the west of Gaza City, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported, while tens of others were wounded in the attack that targeted Palestinian civilians who were waiting in line to receive aid packages in the northern Gaza Strip, a field source from the Palestinian Resistance told Al Mayadeen.
'Israel' justifies its massacre
The Israeli military justified the massacre on the basis that the army sensed danger as civilians approached them, prompting the army to open fire, as per an Israeli source to Anadolu Agency.
They further stated that the army claimed a stampede occurred as they were trying to distribute aid. They blamed the crowded group for injuring other Palestinians and causing trucks to strike civilians.
Considering the number of civilians who were killed in the event, the accusations are incorrect. The genocidal nature of the event is compounded by the fact that the civilians were unarmed and fled as the army opened fire on them.
At least 100 #Palestinians were killed in a massacre committed by Israeli occupation forces in al-Rashid Street, to the west of #Gaza City as the starved civilians were waiting in line to receive much-needed aid from convoys.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 1, 2024
Multiple first-hand accounts confirmed that the… pic.twitter.com/QPReskB6Ho
