Canada announces Gaza aid drop

The Canadian Armed Forces, using a CC-130J Hercules aircraft, carried out an air drop of more than 21,000 lbs of aid into Gaza on Monday, Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced.

"Canada is taking these exceptional measures with our international partners as access to humanitarian aid in Gaza is severely restricted and humanitarian needs have reached an unprecedented level," Anand said in her statement.

"Despite the scale of need, humanitarian partners face severe challenges in delivering life-saving food and medical assistance by land due to ongoing restrictions imposed by the Israeli government. This obstruction of aid is a violation of international humanitarian law and must end immediately," she added.

Last week Anand announced new funding of $21.77m USD (30m CAD) towards the humanitarian needs of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, including support to logistical operations along the Jordanian corridor; support to the United Nations and Red Cross to scale up aid deliveries into Gaza; and the input of Canadian-funded humanitarian supplies into the Gaza supply line, with help from Jordan. 

An additional $7.26m (10m CAD) was provided to the World Bank "to support the Palestinian Authority’s role in stabilising and governing the West Bank," Global Affairs Canada said.