Defence. Crosetto: Launch of Italian humanitarian airdrops to Gaza

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“As part of the initiatives promoted by the Italian Government to help alleviate the severe ongoing humanitarian crisis, I have authorized the activation and deployment of a Defence unit to carry out humanitarian aid airdrops for the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. The Italian Defence remains at the forefront in ensuring, with speed and effectiveness, all possible humanitarian support, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

In line with government directives, I have authorized a mission involving Army and Air Force assets for the transport and airdrop of essential goods intended for Gaza’s civilians, who continue to suffer from the protracted conflict.

The mission – named Solidarity Path Operation 2 – will employ C-130J transport aircraft of the Italian Air Force to drop special containers filled with essential supplies. Operations will be conducted with the collaboration of the Italian Army, responsible for preparing the aid loads.

The intervention will be carried out in close coordination with the Armed Forces of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and operations are set to begin in the coming hours with the deployment of an “advance party” tasked with preparatory and coordination activities with local authorities. Our first airdrops are scheduled and could begin as early as 9 August, allowing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to complete procurement and shipment of food supplies to Jordan.”

“This new initiative – the Minister continued – is part of the broader and concrete commitment of the Italian Defence to support the civilian population of Gaza. A commitment that has already seen us operate with the Navy hospital ship Vulcano, which provided medical care to numerous wounded from the Strip; with the Air Force, which carried out special flights to transport seriously ill or wounded children, together with their families, to Italy for medical treatment; and with the Italian Army, which, as part of the Air-Bridge for Gaza initiative, used its helicopters to deliver medicines directly to the most affected and hard-to-reach areas.

“Every intervention by Defence – concluded Minister Guido Crosetto – is based on a clear principle: we cannot remain indifferent in the face of the suffering of innocent civilians. Our men and women in uniform are once again demonstrating that the spirit of service knows no boundaries.”

“In the coming days – he finally added – a new special Air Force flight is also planned to transport additional patients who will receive medical treatment in Italy.”