Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Britain's Royal Air Force parachuted more than 10 tonnes of aid – including water, rice, cooking oil, flour, tinned goods and baby formula – to Palestinians in Gaza on Monday for the first time during the conflict.
The Ministry of Defence said an RAF A400M aircraft flew from Amman to drop the supplies along Gaza’s northern coastline as part of a Jordanian-led international aid mission.
British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps authorised the aid drop after an assessed reduction in threat to the military mission and risk to civilians.
“The UK has already tripled our aid budget to Gaza, but we want to go further in order to reduce human suffering," Mr Shapps said.
"Today’s airdrop has provided a further way to deliver humanitarian support and I thank the RAF personnel involved in this essential mission, as well as our Jordanian partners for their leadership.
“The hell that was unleashed by the October 7 Hamas attack has led to wide-scale innocent loss of life.
"The UK’s goal is to use every route possible to deliver life-saving aid, whether that is by road, air or new routes via the sea.
“We also continue to call on Israel to provide port access and open more land crossings in order to increase incoming aid deliveries to Gaza.”
The aid delivery came on the day the UK backed a UN Security Council call for a ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan.
Downing Street said the Security Council resolution – the first calling for a halt to the fighting to be passed – sent a clear message that the hostages held by Hamas should be released and aid should be allowed in to Gaza.
Amid warnings of an imminent famine in the war-torn Gaza Strip, the aid drop followed recent land deliveries of 2,000 tonnes of UK food aid to feed more than 275,000 people in the territory.
Monday’s delivery was the UK’s first mission delivering humanitarian aid by parachute, although Britain has previously supported international aid drops, providing about 600 parachutes at the request of Jordan and Bahrain.
Ramadan in Gaza - in pictures
-
Palestinians perform the first Friday prayers of Ramadan near the ruins of a mosque in Rafah, southern Gaza. Reuters -
A Palestinian man reads the Quran as he waits to break his fast in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. Reuters -
Children wait to receive food in Rafah. The UN has warned that many in Gaza are facing famine. Reuters -
Palestinians break their fast amid the rubble of their destroyed home in Rafah. Reuters -
Displaced Palestinians in Rafah decorate their homes with sheets to mark the holy month. AFP -
Palestinians shop for Ramadan lanterns in Rafah. AFP -
A displaced Palestinian woman bakes bread for iftar in Rafah. AFP -
A family break fast amid the ruins of their home in Deir al-Balah, the central Gaza Strip. AFP -
Palestinians share an iftar meal at a camp in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip. AFP -
A displaced Palestinian man prays in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip. AFP -
Palestinians pray taraweeh on the rubble of Rafah's Al Huda Mosque, which was destroyed in Israeli air strikes. Getty Images -
Palestinians walk past kiosks set up next to destroyed buildings in Al Nusairat refugee camp, the Gaza Strip EPA -
Palestinians collect food before the first iftar of Ramadan in Rafah. AFP -
Palestinians gather to collect food in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip. AFP -
A Palestinian child plays with a sparkler in Rafah, in southern Gaza, on the eve of Ramadan. AFP -
Displaced Palestinians in Rafah decorate their tent in preparation for Ramadan. Getty Images -
Palestinian children carry traditional lanterns in Rafah on the eve of Ramadan. AFP -
Children play at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah. AFP -
A girl plays with a cat at a camp in Rafah. AFP -
A child carries a small Ramadan lantern in Gaza city. AFP -
A displaced Palestinian child sells handmade Ramadan lanterns in Rafah. AFP -
A Palestinian street vendor sells traditional 'fanous' lanterns in Rafah. AFP -
A child touches decorative lights and lanterns at a shop in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. AFP
