Enlarge image

Bundeswehr C130 transport aircraft (photo from 2023)

Photo: Stefan Sauer / dpa

The air force is pushing ahead with its preparations to drop aid supplies over the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, the soldiers who had flown in began loading the first C130 transport aircraft at a military base near the Jordanian capital Amman.

The relief supplies are provided by the World Food Program (WFB) and are paid for by the Federal Foreign Office (AA).

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) approved the drop on Wednesday.

The C130 transport aircraft set off from Évreux, France, where they are based, towards Jordan and arrived on Thursday.

If everything goes according to plan, the first German “air drop” over the Gaza Strip could take place as early as Saturday.

Israel controls airspace over the Gaza Strip

According to the military, the transport planes can each take nine large pallets of food and medicine on board, which will then be dropped by parachute over the Gaza Strip.

The Air Force has coordinated closely with France on the details of the mission, as the NATO partner already has experience with such flights.

In addition, the operation is closely coordinated with the Israeli military, as the airspace over Gaza is controlled by Israel.

The cargo should only be dropped if no damage to the ground is foreseeable.

The background is that there is always a certain residual risk when opening a parachute.

There should be a risk assessment before every drop.

Specifically, it's about the altitude from which the drop takes place.

If it is higher, the threat of small arms fire could be reduced.

With this campaign, the Bundeswehr is taking part in the airlift for Gaza, which was initiated by Jordan.

Other partners such as the USA and France are also taking part in the initiative.

According to aid organizations, the situation of the people in the area is becoming increasingly desperate.

According to the UN, there is a risk of a hunger crisis if aid deliveries by truck are not expanded.

Around 2.2 million people live in the Gaza Strip.

The plan is to reach an unloading platform off the coast of the Gaza Strip, which can serve as a temporary port for supply ships.

Smaller ships with less draft are supposed to bring the cargo ashore from the platform.

mgb/ulz