US Starts Airdropping Aid In Gaza As Hamas Claims Killing Of Hostages
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON/GAZA CITY (Worthy News) – U.S. President Joe Biden says the U.S. will begin airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza, where Hamas claimed Friday that seven Israeli hostages were among those killed in Israeli bombardments.
Biden said the airdrops will start within the “coming days” and means the United States will join other nations in a bid to relieve what he views as increasingly dire conditions brought by the Israel-Hamas war. Earlier, Jordanian Air Force pilots dropped 33 tons of medical supplies, food, and other necessities on Gaza on Thursday, officials said.
President Biden spoke about America’s role in aid air droppings while hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House.
His remarks came after the Hamas-run Health Ministry said at least 115 Palestinians were killed and over 750 others injured Thursday when Israeli troops opened fire as huge crowds raced to pull goods off an aid convoy.
Israel’s military vehemently denied shooting at civilian masses, saying soldiers only fired at a small group that moved away from the trucks and threatened a checkpoint in Gaza.
There has been a history of Israelis being targeted by Hamas fighters and its supporters, some carrying suicide vests as well as weapons. Israel said most were killed in a crash or run over by trucks trying to escape.
Separately, Hamas said Friday that seven Israeli hostages died as a result of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, but the claims could not be verified. The Israeli government estimates that 253 people were abducted during Hamas’s October 7 attack in Israel, which killed some 1,200 people, including raped women and children.
99 LIVING HOSTAGES?
Figures released by the Israeli prime minister’s office before Hamas’s latest announcement suggested that 99 living hostages remain in Gaza.
The Israeli military did not immediately confirm or deny the seven hostages had died.
However, Israel has accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields.
Despite concerns about the plight of hostages, the European Union said Friday that it will release 50 million euros ($54 million) to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees next week.
The U.S. and other countries paused funding to the agency as Israel alleged that several staff members were involved in the October 7 attacks.
The EU and the U.S. hope their involvement in humanitarian aid could help ease suffering as the Hamas-run Health Ministry claimed 10 children died of “malnutrition and dehydration” in northern Gaza.
Gaza is “on the brink of famine,” humanitarian groups say, as convoys have increasingly struggled to make aid deliveries amid bombardments and dissipations at border crossings.
DETAINED IN WEST BANK
Israel says Hamas is misusing aid convoys to transport its troops and weapons.
Ahead of the announcements, a Palestinian American woman held in Israeli detention for three weeks was reportedly released on bail for the rest of her trial.
Samaher Esmail, 46, was arrested in the West Bank after the Israeli army said she was involved in “incitement on social media.”
As the war continued Friday, the Hamas Health Ministry in Gaza said at least 30,228 people have been killed and 71,377 injured in Gaza since the war began.
Those figures have been complex to verify, and the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Israel says it has killed more than 13,000 “Hamas terrorists” after it launched its operations following the October 7 atrocities.
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