Italy will begin airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza next week as warnings of imminent famine intensify, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has announced.

The mission, which is due to start on 9 August, will see the Italian Air Force work alongside Jordan’s military to deliver containers of essential supplies to civilians trapped in the enclave after more than 21 months of conflict.

“I have given the green light to a mission involving Army and Air Force assets for the transport and airdrop of necessities to civilians in Gaza, who have been severely affected by the ongoing conflict,” Tajani said.

Italy joins several European countries, including Spain, the UK and France, in conducting air-based humanitarian operations for Gaza.

On Friday, Spain dropped 12 tonnes of food into the territory, using 24 parachutes—each loaded with around 500kg of aid—enough to support roughly 11,000 people.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described the situation as “a disgrace to all of humanity” and called on Israel to permanently open land crossings to allow large-scale aid deliveries. He said additional Spanish aid remains stuck in Egypt awaiting access.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said airdrops provide only limited relief.

“Airdrops are at least 100 times more costly than trucks. Trucks carry twice as much aid as planes,” he wrote on X, stressing that road-based deliveries are essential to meet Gaza’s urgent humanitarian needs.

While Israel has permitted more aid trucks into Gaza in recent days, aid agencies say inspections remain slow and that more crossing points are required to speed up deliveries.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply in recent weeks, with UN-backed experts warning that the enclave is on the brink of famine. (ILKHA)