Airdrops over Gaza Strip: 14-year-old allegedly killed by aid crate

Airdrops are also used to supply the population of Gaza with essential aid. Now, one of these is said to have led to a terrible tragedy – and this is believed to be far from an isolated incident.

According to Palestinian sources, a 14-year-old boy was killed in the Gaza Strip by an air-dropped crate of humanitarian aid. The incident occurred near the refugee neighborhood of Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health. The information has not yet been independently verified.

After a months-long blockade of aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, Israel has permitted airdrops and, to a limited extent, land transports since the end of last month. The airdrops, in which Germany is also participating, are controversial. They are considered ineffective and even dangerous.

Several countries involved

On Friday, Palestinian sources said six people, mostly children, were injured in Gaza City when a dropped crate struck a balcony and caused it to collapse. Aid organizations say many times more of the dropped goods could be transported to the Gaza Strip more safely by truck if Israel allowed it.

However, deliveries by truck are also not considered accurate. Many of the shipments fail to reach those most in need because they are looted before distribution—by civilians and armed groups.

According to the Israeli army, military aircraft from Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan dropped 106 boxes of humanitarian aid over the Gaza Strip on Saturday.