This was reported by Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp and Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans to the House of Representatives. The aid comes after an increase in deaths from malnutrition and a near-halt inflow of humanitarian supplies.
August 8 first flight
The first Dutch flight will take place on August 8th. The aircraft will conduct two weeks of airdrops. The Netherlands is providing a C130 aircraft and crew for this purpose. The aid will be delivered through a partnership of several countries led by Jordan.
"This is necessary because there is still insufficient food and other relief supplies being brought into and distributed by land in Gaza. Although the Netherlands is now focusing on airdrops, this is not a replacement for focusing on humanitarian access by land," the ministers wrote to the House of Representatives.
Chamber returns from recess due to Gaza
Next Thursday, the House of Representatives will interrupt its summer recess for a committee debate on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. A majority supported a request from SP MP Sarah Dobbe on Tuesday, according to several MPs. The VVD, CDA, and ChristenUnie parties, however, first want more information from the European Commission and the cabinet.
Measures against Israel
Earlier this week, the cabinet announced additional measures against Israel after an emergency meeting. These included a travel ban for Israeli ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, and the ambassador to Minister Veldkamp (Foreign Affairs) has been summoned.
Aid organizations critical: 'Dangerous and expensive'
Dropping aid over Gaza is "very dangerous, expensive, and often doesn't reach the people who need it most," says the Red Cross. Amnesty International is also critical.
According to the Red Cross, people in Gaza have already been injured and killed by aid dropped from the air, and relatively few aid supplies can fit on an airplane.
Amnesty International calls the airdrops"primarily symbolic." The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) also calls the airdrops ineffective. All three organizations urge countries to ensure unhindered access to aid by land.
