Canadian Forces Air Drop Aid in Gaza

Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, today announced that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) delivered additional life-saving humanitarian assistance to Gaza to respond to the pressing humanitarian needs of Palestinians.

The CAF employed a CC-130J Hercules aircraft to conduct an airdrop of critical humanitarian aid in support of Global Affairs Canada into the Gaza Strip. The air drop consisted of 21,600 pounds of aid.

Canada is taking these exceptional measures with our international partners as access to humanitarian aid in Gaza is severely restricted and humanitarian needs have reached an unprecedented level. Despite the scale of need, humanitarian partners face severe challenges in delivering life-saving food and medical assistance by land due to ongoing restrictions imposed by the Israeli government. This obstruction of aid is a violation of international humanitarian law and must end immediately.

Improving the humanitarian conditions of Palestinians requires a dramatic scale-up of humanitarian assistance. Canada reiterates calls for the guarantee of safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations, including the opening of all crossings, the rapid approval of customs clearances and all humanitarian goods into Gaza, and the issuance of long-term visas for aid workers. 

Canada thanks Jordan for facilitating the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Canada remains firmly committed to promoting peace and stability in the region and will intensify its efforts with international partners toward this goal. The two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in security, remains the only viable pathway to a just and lasting peace.

The CAF stands ready to respond to Government of Canada priorities and requests for assistance whenever it is called upon.

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