Germany, Spain and others join ‘airlift’ of humanitarian aid to Gaza as UN-backed agency declares ‘worst-case famine scenario’

Israel approved requests by four European countries to join the operation to airdrop humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, where the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) upgraded its warning of widespread famine.

“The worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip,” according to an interim report by the IPC, an initiative supported by the UN and major relief agencies.

“Mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths,” read the warning, which still doesn’t constitute an official declaration of famine.

Earlier this week, Israel decided to radically change its aid policy in the Gaza Strip, approving and conducting airdrops as well as the entry of aid through several additional corridors amid a torrent of international criticism.

This will enable more Gazans to reach the aid, but also allows Hamas to steal the aid, resupplying itself before selling the surplus to the civilians.

Despite Israel’s approval of formal requests to carry out airdrops by Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Spain, Belgium, France and Germany, aid groups criticized the airdrops as costly, less efficient than truck deliveries, and potentially dangerous.

According to Israel Hayom, the requests by the European countries specified that the Royal Jordanian Air Force would conduct the airdrops.

In addition, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI reportedly also requested permission to fly aid to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport and transport it by truck to the Gaza Strip.

The requests by Spain, France, and Belgium were approved despite deteriorating relations between the countries and Israel.

“The famine in Gaza is a shame for all of humanity and stopping it, therefore, is a moral imperative,” said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who has emerged as one of the most persistent and vocal critics of Israel in Europe.

Relations with Germany have, so far, not deteriorated to the same degree as with the aforementioned countries.

Jordan is an anchor in a region of the world that is in constant turmoil.

Your Majesty King Abdullah II, for this your country, and you personally, deserve our thanks. We are reliable partners, and you are valued diplomatic advisers for us. Welcome to Berlin. pic.twitter.com/eOKdwvltKE

— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) July 29, 2025

“Israel must urgently and decisively improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. It must provide the suffering civilian population with dignified, urgently needed supplies. We welcome the first steps in this regard. But further steps must follow,” Merz said in another statement.

The chancellor and his security cabinet discussed the Gaza situation in a two-hour meeting this week, as some members of his coalition have demanded that Germany join France and other European countries in a harder-line stance toward Israel.

Asked during a press conference whether Germany could consider punitive measures like a suspension of Israel’s Association Agreement with the European Union, Merz replied, “We are keeping such steps on the table.”

However, he added that he intended to speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before making a final decision, and his Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is expected to travel to the Middle East at the end of the week.

In his statement, Merz added that “A viable political perspective for Gaza is necessary so that a temporary ceasefire can become lasting peace. There must be no expulsions and no further steps toward annexation of the West Bank.”

In a positive signal for Israel, the looming suspension of Israel’s participation in the Horizon Europe, the world’s largest research program for scientific cooperation, was postponed as the meeting ended without a decision.

According to Israel Hayom, which cited diplomatic sources, two major member states – reportedly Germany and Italy – opposed the measure.