The German Air Force halts humanitarian flights above Gaza.
In March, following a federal resolution, two C-130J Super Hercules transport planes from the Franco-German air transport unit in Évreux, Normandy, were temporarily stationed in Jordan. The French soldiers present on site managed the unloading process. In April, these two aircraft were replaced by two A400Ms, for which a dedicated cargo release system had been designed.
Since the end of 2023, the air force had been supplying humanitarian aid to the affected civilian population due to the Gaza War on various occasions. Shortly before Christmas, an A400M completed three missions to Egypt and Jordan on behalf of the Foreign Office to provide aid.
Almost a year after the conflict between Israel and the radical Islamist Hamas started, many residents of the Gaza Strip are still struggling to meet their basic needs. Rarely do foreign aid shipments reach the sealed-off area.
Following deadly incidents during the parachute drops of humanitarian aid, Hamas officials demanded an end to these airdrops. According to Hamas authorities, at least 21 people were killed in the Palestinian territory as a result of the international community's airdrops, which began in February.
In response, the American military has installed a temporary docking station off the coast of the Palestinian territory to facilitate the delivery of aid by sea.
On Sunday, the Al-Kahera News network, connected to the Egyptian intelligence service, reported that 200 trucks loaded with relief supplies had driven from the Egyptian side of the Rafah checkpoint, which has been controlled and closed by Israel since May, towards Kerem Shalom.
The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7 with a massive Hamas assault on Israel. According to the Israeli numbers, 1170 people were killed and approximately 250 were kidnapped as hostages in the Gaza Strip. Since then, Israel has been continuing its massive military operations in the coastal region. The health ministry led by Hamas, which cannot be independently verified, states that over 36,200 people have been killed to date.
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- The German Air Force's halt on humanitarian flights above Gaza didn't affect the two C-130J Super Hercules transport planes from the Franco-German air transport unit in Évreux, Normandy, which were temporarily stationed in Jordan in March.
- Important auxiliary goods, such as food and medical supplies, were transported by the German Armed Forces' A400M planes to Jordan and Egypt in December to aid the civilian population affected by the Gaza War.
- In lieu of the suspended airdrops due to Hamas's demands following deadly incidents, the German Federal Government arranged for relief flights to deliver aid directly to Kerem Shalom in Israel.
- The AA (German Aerospace Center) played a crucial role in designing a dedicated cargo release system for the A400Ms, which became essential for delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
- During the Christmas season, the German Air Force's Auxiliary flight to the Gaza Strip played a significant role in ensuring that the affected population received food and other essential Auxiliary goods.
- As an alternative to parachute drops, the German Air Force employed the German-designed cargo release system to prevent future fatalities, ensuring the safety of the affected population in Gaza.
- Jordan welcomed the German Air Force's humanitarian flight missions, recognizing their importance in satisfying the basic needs of the conflict-stricken population in the Gaza Strip.
- Faced with continued challenges in accessing the Gaza Strip, organizations from Europe, the Middle East, and around the world have joined efforts to distribute food and other vital supplies via land, air, and sea to help alleviate the hardships faced by the region's residents.
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