Watan-Critics, both Palestinian and Arab, have condemned what they described as a state of vanity and boasting by regimes that participated in the aerial delivery of aid to Gaza.
A Palestinian journalist affirmed that despite the extensive media coverage of this initiative, no aid parachutes had reached the northern part of the besieged enclave.
Dozens of videos and images circulated on social media platforms depicting the aerial aid drop operation carried out by France and three Arab countries (Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar) to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.
The hashtag “Aerial Drop” trended on the social media platform X, but many users emphasized that the media buzz deliberately stirred up by Arab governmental parties yielded no results in some parts of Gaza, including the northern region, as disclosed by Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif. Al Sharif tweeted, “We hear the noise but see no flour… We confirm that no aerial aid has reached northern Gaza yet.”
نسمع جعجعة ولا نرى طحيناً
نؤكد عدم وصول أي مساعدات جوية في شمال غزة حتى الآن#الإنزال_الجوي— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) February 27, 2024
He underscored that fuel shortages and the intensified blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation on northern Gaza had led to hospitals shutting down and the suspension of dozens of emergency operations.
Egypt’s Sisi regime closes the crossing and boasts of the aerial drop According to the Egyptian Armed Forces spokesperson, Gharib Abdelhafiz Gharib, aid was dispatched by Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and France. These countries executed an operation to drop tons of humanitarian aid over the Gaza Strip, he said.
Pro-Sisi media figure Mustafa Bakri wrote on X, “President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, decided to instruct the Egyptian Air Force to drop food supplies for our people in Gaza along the Gaza coast. This is a humanitarian decision, a duty for the entire nation.”
Bakri added, “It is commendable that many other Arab countries participated in this. Egypt did not hesitate for a moment to stand with our people, bearing alone 80% of the aid provided. All of Egypt stands with Gaza.”
تسبب نفاد الوقود، واشتداد الحصار الذي تفرضه إسرائيل على شمال قطاع غزة، بتوقف عمل المستشفيات، وتعطل إجراء عشرات العمليات الطارئة
pic.twitter.com/lgQWPUvqd0— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) February 27, 2024
He further stated, “The genocide war and the starvation war prompted an American soldier to set himself on fire and die in front of the Zionist embassy in Washington, chanting: Long live free Palestine. So what about us, the Arab nation, and these are our people!”
The Jordanian army announced the largest aid drop operation for Gaza residents since the start of the Israeli war on the territory.
Open the crossing for us
Activist Ali Abu Rizk responded to Mustafa Bakri, saying, “Professor Mustafa, we forgive you for the aid, and we don’t want a drop. Open the crossing for us at its full capacity, and we want to buy our food and supplies at our own expense.”
He continued to criticize the Egyptian regime and its shows of strength, saying, “And more importantly, stop the bribes at the crossing, the bad treatment, and the unjustified humiliation. I swear to God, one of my relatives paid fifty thousand dollars as a bribe to leave Gaza for fear for his job in the Gulf!”
تخيل يا مؤمن الدولة العربية الوحيدة الي معاها حدود مع غزة قالت بتسوي انزال جوي.
وفيه طوابير الشاحنات عند معبر رفح من الجانب المصري واقفة منذ 144 يوم بلاش هذه يمكن توجعهم
بس شايف السور الكبير هذا ورائه مليون و200 ألف نازح في رفح من جانب غزة pic.twitter.com/W4C6TKVkCR
— ابو وافي الوايلي (@wafy_alwayly) February 27, 2024
“New Indian film”
Meanwhile, activist Ahmed Al-Ghamdi criticized Bakri and the Sisi regime, saying, “A new Indian-Egyptian film and a stupid production! Open the iron gate that separates Egypt from Gaza, and there is no need for this theatrical performance.”
He continued in condemnation, “You justify your inability to protect aid trucks without the permission of the occupying entity, which allowed you to land from the moon to aid Gaza? Would not silence be better than this charade?”
Official statement from Jordan
In a statement carried by the official Jordanian news agency, it was reported that the aid drop operations were carried out by three Jordanian aircraft and a French aircraft of the “C-130” type, targeting 11 locations on the Gaza coast from the north to the south of the enclave.
Abu Wafi Al-Wabli commented on that move, saying, “Imagine, believers, the only Arab country with a border with Gaza claims to conduct an aerial drop. And there are queues of trucks at the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side standing for 144 days. Enough of this, it may hurt, but they see the big wall behind them, and there are 1.2 million displaced people in Rafah from the Gaza side.”
Adham Abu Salamah added, “The hope from our brothers in Egypt is a land bridge through the Rafah crossing, which is easier, simpler, and faster. Any aerial drop from the Egyptian side will only be interpreted within the framework of the performance that does not achieve the desired goal of ending the unprecedented humanitarian suffering and famine… Nevertheless, I repeat; every humanitarian effort and relief endeavor is appreciated and thanked.”