Theo Francken: “Defence is ready” – Belgium launches airdrops over Gaza

Belgium is taking part in a multinational airdrop operation to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The initiative is being coordinated by Jordan. “You can count on our Defence forces,” says Defence Minister Theo Francken.

For several months, Belgium has been calling for unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza—by land, air or sea. Every day, children, women and men are dying of hunger. Despite formal requests, Israel had so far refused to allow aid trucks to enter or to open its airspace over Gaza. In response, Belgium and the European Union increased diplomatic pressure on Israel to comply with its obligations under international law. In recent days, an opening has emerged through Jordan’s Ministry of Defence. Belgium’s Foreign Affairs, Defence, and other departments under the B-FAST coordination mechanism joined forces to launch a Belgian operation to transport and drop humanitarian aid. Still, the primary objective remains: allowing aid trucks into Gaza.

Action plan

An A400M aircraft from the Belgian army will soon depart for Amman, the capital of Jordan, carrying humanitarian supplies provided by B-FAST. The cargo consists mainly of medical supplies and food, with a total value of nearly €600,000. A reconnaissance team from the Defence Ministry, in collaboration with Foreign Affairs, is preparing the operation on the ground. The first drops will involve supplies already stored in Jordan.

Ensuring the safety of the Palestinian population

Special attention is being paid to the safety of Palestinians, who are currently crammed into less than one-fifth of Gaza’s territory. Around two million people are living in extremely difficult conditions. These airdrops are a first step, but they must not distract from the urgent need to establish land access. Belgium continues to urge the Israeli authorities to allow the rapid delivery of aid into Gaza.

Defence stands ready

Minister Theo Francken highlights the role of the armed forces: “Our Defence forces are always ready to respond to humanitarian crises. The situation in Gaza is dire. Hamas must release the hostages and lay down its arms. Israel, for its part, must urgently improve the humanitarian conditions. The 15th Wing has already conducted humanitarian airdrops over Gaza and will resume those missions shortly. You can count on Defence.”