The White House announced on Tuesday that the first humanitarian aid flight, facilitated by the US military, is scheduled to arrive in Egypt for civilians in Gaza during the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas.
The truce, extended by two days on Monday, has allowed for the release of some hostages held by Hamas and facilitated the entry of increased humanitarian aid into Gaza since Friday.
Significantly, this marks the initiation of a series of humanitarian aid flights facilitated by the US military. The first of three flights is aimed at delivering essential medical supplies, food, and winter necessities in anticipation of the approaching winter in Gaza.
The United Nations will play a crucial role in the distribution of these supplies, ensuring that they reach the civilian population in need.
According to officials, this initial relief flight is the first of three, leveraging the distinctive capabilities of the US military, and is set to arrive in North Sinai, Egypt.
The next two flights with humanitarian aid “will be coming in the coming days,” the official said further.
Since the crisis began, the United States has sponsored five commercial aircraft for product delivery to Egypt. However, these upcoming flights are the first to be facilitated by the military. These military aircraft are currently enroute to Egypt during the two-day extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The ceasefire initiated on Friday in the intense conflict in Gaza has facilitated the influx of a substantial amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Additionally, it has resulted in the release of several captives held by Hamas.
As per the White House, the choice to deploy military aircraft to the Middle East stems from the need to replenish supplies, given the heightened volume of product delivery into Gaza during the temporary cessation of hostilities.
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