(Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
Five Gazans Killed by US Aid Airdrops as Biden Faces Backlash Over 'Gimmicks'
The U.S. has been airdropping humanitarian assistance as Israel impedes and attacks aid convoys on the ground.
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
The U.S. has been airdropping humanitarian assistance as Israel impedes and attacks aid convoys on the ground.
U.S. aid containers airdropped from Army planes on Friday killed at least five people in Gaza and injured others.
It's been reported that the parachutes on the aid containers did not open after being dropped. U.S. President Joe Biden authorized aid airdrops in Gaza last week as Israeli forces continue obstructing shipments on the ground.
"Enough w/ the gimmicks of dropping food from the air & building a pier in two months," Josh Ruebner, an adjunct lecturer at Georgetown University and former policy director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, wrote in a social media post directed at Biden.
Approximately 70,000 meals have been dropped in Gaza over the past week, which is a small portion of what's needed considering the territory has a population of more than 2 million people—almost all of whom are in desperate need of food aid.
"Waiting 45-60 days to build a temporary pier doesn't help Palestinians starving to death today."
President Biden said in his State of the Union address on Thursday night that the U.S. will be setting up a temporary port on Gaza's coastline to deliver aid. Critics have said that Biden should be demanding that Israel simply let the U.S. and other countries deliver aid on the ground.
"Wouldn't it be easier to demand Israel let in aid right now while Palestinian children are literally being starved to death?" Ruebner asked Wednesday. "Waiting 45-60 days to build a temporary pier doesn't help Palestinians starving to death today."
Gaza is facing a severe food and water shortage, and the aid the U.S. is delivering is nowhere near enough to meet the needs of the people in the enclave, as President Biden himself has acknowledged. It remains to be seen how much aid the U.S. will be able to deliver via the temporary port.
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
U.S. aid containers airdropped from Army planes on Friday killed at least five people in Gaza and injured others.
It's been reported that the parachutes on the aid containers did not open after being dropped. U.S. President Joe Biden authorized aid airdrops in Gaza last week as Israeli forces continue obstructing shipments on the ground.
"Enough w/ the gimmicks of dropping food from the air & building a pier in two months," Josh Ruebner, an adjunct lecturer at Georgetown University and former policy director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, wrote in a social media post directed at Biden.
Approximately 70,000 meals have been dropped in Gaza over the past week, which is a small portion of what's needed considering the territory has a population of more than 2 million people—almost all of whom are in desperate need of food aid.
"Waiting 45-60 days to build a temporary pier doesn't help Palestinians starving to death today."
President Biden said in his State of the Union address on Thursday night that the U.S. will be setting up a temporary port on Gaza's coastline to deliver aid. Critics have said that Biden should be demanding that Israel simply let the U.S. and other countries deliver aid on the ground.
"Wouldn't it be easier to demand Israel let in aid right now while Palestinian children are literally being starved to death?" Ruebner asked Wednesday. "Waiting 45-60 days to build a temporary pier doesn't help Palestinians starving to death today."
Gaza is facing a severe food and water shortage, and the aid the U.S. is delivering is nowhere near enough to meet the needs of the people in the enclave, as President Biden himself has acknowledged. It remains to be seen how much aid the U.S. will be able to deliver via the temporary port.
U.S. aid containers airdropped from Army planes on Friday killed at least five people in Gaza and injured others.
It's been reported that the parachutes on the aid containers did not open after being dropped. U.S. President Joe Biden authorized aid airdrops in Gaza last week as Israeli forces continue obstructing shipments on the ground.
"Enough w/ the gimmicks of dropping food from the air & building a pier in two months," Josh Ruebner, an adjunct lecturer at Georgetown University and former policy director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, wrote in a social media post directed at Biden.
Approximately 70,000 meals have been dropped in Gaza over the past week, which is a small portion of what's needed considering the territory has a population of more than 2 million people—almost all of whom are in desperate need of food aid.
"Waiting 45-60 days to build a temporary pier doesn't help Palestinians starving to death today."
President Biden said in his State of the Union address on Thursday night that the U.S. will be setting up a temporary port on Gaza's coastline to deliver aid. Critics have said that Biden should be demanding that Israel simply let the U.S. and other countries deliver aid on the ground.
"Wouldn't it be easier to demand Israel let in aid right now while Palestinian children are literally being starved to death?" Ruebner asked Wednesday. "Waiting 45-60 days to build a temporary pier doesn't help Palestinians starving to death today."
Gaza is facing a severe food and water shortage, and the aid the U.S. is delivering is nowhere near enough to meet the needs of the people in the enclave, as President Biden himself has acknowledged. It remains to be seen how much aid the U.S. will be able to deliver via the temporary port.