UAE's Aid Efforts in Gaza and Strengthening Ties with Israel and Egypt

France, Jordan, and the UAE have joined forces to provide much-needed aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. In a collaborative effort, Jordan air-dropped aid into Gaza with the assistance of a French plane. The operation was carried out in coordination with international organizations and aimed to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The aid delivery included essential supplies such as food, medicine, and other basic necessities. This initiative demonstrates the commitment of all three countries to support the people of Gaza in their time of need [96bf3545].

In addition to the air-drop operation, France has announced its plan to send a navy ship to support the hospitals in Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement during a press conference in Cairo, where he was joined by Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. Macron stated that the navy ship would depart from Toulon within the next 48 hours, providing further assistance to the healthcare facilities in Gaza. Furthermore, a planeload of medical equipment will be sent to Egypt for delivery to Gaza [03dc0857].

The UAE has also announced the departure of a second maritime aid shipment for Gaza. Three ships and a barge have set sail from Cyprus carrying hundreds of tonnes of food, including ready-to-eat items such as rice, pasta, flour, legumes, canned vegetables, and proteins. The shipment has enough food to prepare more than one million meals. The initiative is conducted by World Central Kitchen and Open Arms, in close partnership with the UAE and the support of Cyprus. The UAE has delivered 26,000 tonnes of urgent supplies, including food, water, and medical items, through 229 flights, 19 airdrops, 1,035 lorries, and three ships. The opening of land crossings remains paramount to avert famine in Gaza [8337fe78] [ae694a94] [3e5e8cf0].

A three-ship convoy operated by the Spanish aid group Open Arms has arrived in Gaza, carrying around 400 tons of food items including rice, flour, pasta, and canned food products. The convoy set sail from the port of Larnaca in Cyprus and has reached the central Gaza coast. The aid ships are expected to provide much-needed food to Gaza, offering relief to the people who have been facing a dire humanitarian situation [98641448] [d696ea2d].

The US has now joined other countries in providing aid to Gaza through airdrops. More than 30,000 meals were parachuted in by three military planes in the first US airdrop of humanitarian aid for Gaza. The operation was carried out jointly with Jordan's Air Force and was the first of many announced by President Joe Biden. This comes after at least 112 people were killed in a tragic incident as crowds rushed to an aid convoy outside Gaza city. The US airdrop is seen as an important step in expanding and sustaining the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza in response to the dire humanitarian situation. Other countries, including the UK, France, Egypt, and Jordan, have previously conducted airdrops in Gaza. Aid agencies have noted that airdrops are an inefficient way of delivering aid, but the US airdrop demonstrates the country's commitment to providing assistance to Gaza [96bf3545] [2b12aa52].

The situation in Gaza remains critical, with a strict blockade and ongoing Israeli airstrikes. The hospitals in Gaza are facing collapse due to the shortage of essential supplies and the risk of infrastructure damage. The collaborative efforts of France, Jordan, and the UAE, through air-drops, naval support, and maritime shipments, along with the arrival of aid ships and the US airdrop, will help alleviate the dire situation and provide much-needed aid to the people of Gaza [96bf3545] [03dc0857] [8337fe78] [ae694a94] [3e5e8cf0] [98641448] [d696ea2d] [2b12aa52].

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been providing aid to Gaza and strengthening its ties with Israel and Egypt. The UAE has spent around $700 million on aid efforts in El-Arish and the Palestinian territory, including setting up a field hospital in Gaza and providing medical aid through air drops. The UAE aims to play a leading role in diplomatic and aid efforts in the Israel-Gaza conflict and has indicated a willingness to send security forces into Gaza. The UAE's motivation may be to establish itself as a diplomatic intermediary between Israel and Egypt and to have a positive impact on Palestine. The UAE's influence is growing in the region, and it has leveraged its relationships and petrodollars to support humanitarian efforts. However, despite these efforts, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen. The UAE's involvement in Gaza aid and ties to Israel have faced criticism in the Arab public sphere. The UAE's investment in Egypt has also signaled its intent to compete for influence with other Gulf powers. The UAE's humanitarian efforts in Gaza may also improve its relationship with the US [e4b90692].

Jordan Armed Forces, in collaboration with five other countries, conducted 10 airdrops of humanitarian and food aid in the northern Gaza Strip. Participating in the operation were two aircraft from the Royal Jordanian Air Force, along with four from the US, and one each from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Germany, and Britain. The airdrops aim to help the residents in Gaza overcome the difficult conditions in the holy month of Ramadan. Since the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel conflict in October last year, Jordan has carried out 184 airdrops over Gaza, 119 of which were in cooperation with other countries [83f20dd8].

The Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defence announced the implementation of the 20th airdrop of humanitarian and relief aid as part of the 'Birds of Goodness' operation. Two C17 aircraft belonging to the UAE Air Force and a C130 aircraft belonging to the Egyptian Air Force participated in the airdrop operation. The airdrop was carried out over inaccessible isolated areas in the northern Gaza Strip via three aircraft carrying 82 tonnes of food and relief aid, bringing the total amount of aid airdrops to 989 tonnes since the beginning of the operation. The Birds of Goodness operation is part of 'Operation Chivalrous Knight 3' to support Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip [78061cfa].

The Jordanian military has conducted a fresh aid airdrop over the Gaza Strip. Photos released by the Jordanian military show planes dropping help packages over Gaza. The airdrop is aimed at providing assistance to the people in Gaza [6fab1091].