Belgium will send humanitarian aid to Gaza via air transport, Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced on Friday.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo had hinted on Thursday that the government was considering this action at the request of Jordan. Jordanian military has recently conducted a series of humanitarian aid drops, delivering food and other supplies to the people of the Gaza Strip.
A Belgian reconnaissance team is currently located in Jordan. They will dispatch B-FAST supplies for Gaza on Monday via an A400M transport aircraft.
Defence Minister Dedonder proposed this air-dropping scheme after the deaths of 100 people and more than 700 injured during aid distribution in Gaza on Thursday.
Hamas accused Israel of firing at civilians, but Israel said most died in a crush after soldiers fired warning shots when they felt endangered. UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the incident and has demanded an independent probe.
On Thursday EU criticism of Israel mounted with French President Emmanuel Macron expressing “deep indignation at the images coming from Gaza where civilians have been targeted by Israeli soldiers."
Top EU officials also reacted. European Council President Charles Michel said he was "shocked and repulsed by yesterday’s killing of innocent civilians." Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was " Deeply disturbed by the images from Gaza."
The United Nations has once again warned that famine in the Gaza Strip is "almost inevitable, if nothing changes." Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has reported that at least 10 children have already died of hunger.
