Aid Airdrops in Gaza—Shifting the Danger from Distribution Hubs to the Beaches

E. Mark Windle 26 July 2025.

As cases of severe malnutrition in Gaza continue to rise (and killings continue at the distribution hubs), tonight’s media headline is that Israel is allowing Jordan and UAE to conduct food airdrops in the next few days, apparently with UK involvement.

Deliveries of aid by airdrops have been attempted previously in Gaza, all with limited or zero success. The US, the UK and France have frequently employed airdrops throughout the Israel-Hamas conflict — though ironically this has usually been to deliver arms to Israeli forces rather than provision of humanitarian aid.

Airdrops are costly and extremely inefficient. One UN aid truck has a typical capacity of up to 20 tons of aid. According to UK government figures, each flight drop by the Royal Air Force has averaged around 10 tons. Given that open areas are required for parachute landings, the flat Gazan coastline has been a popular target for drops.

However, packages can land in the sea or present a danger to civilians — in active conflict zones, parachuted palettes of goods may be released from a height of 300 to 5,000 metres. Crowd desperation and the presence of semi-organised gangs waiting for airdrops also result in less-than-fair distribution of items.

And of course, let’s not forget that the IDF have openly declared they will target any Gazans attempting to enter the sea.

“The Hundred Year Hunger. A Timeline of Food Insecurity and Malnutrition in Gaza” by E. Mark Windle is available via A Nickel and a Nail (UK customers only). Non-UK customers should order via Lulu.

For each book sold in 2025, £2 will go to the non-profit World Central Kitchen who provide emergency aid through the provision of cooked meals, and food and water distribution in Gaza and other global regions.