What we know
- The U.S. completed its first airdrop of humanitarian aid into Gaza this morning, with three military C-130 planes dropping 66 pallets containing 38,000 meals, officials told NBC News. Aid organizations say that airdrops fall far short of meeting the desperate need for food and supplies in the enclave, where many of the 2.2 million people are facing starvation.
- The deadly violence surrounding an aid convoy in Gaza City — in which more than 100 people were killed after Israeli forces were accused of opening fire on a crowd of Palestinians hoping to get food — has inflamed global calls for an immediate cease-fire, including from France and Germany.
- In the wake of the outrage, U.S. officials scrambled to salvage ongoing cease-fire negotiations, with President Joe Biden saying he remains hopeful that a deal will be reached before Ramadan.
- Israel has essentially accepted the proposed framework of a Gaza cease-fire if Hamas agrees to release sick, elderly and women hostages, according to a U.S. senior administration official Saturday. The current deal would be more complicated than the earlier cease-fires due to its length, but the six-week deal “has the potential to extend from there.”
- Aid agencies and health workers said “a large number” of the dead and injured taken to hospitals following the violence had gunshot wounds. Yesterday, an IDF spokesman denied that soldiers had shot into the crowd, after the IDF had initially confirmed that its forces used live fire. The spokesperson blamed most of the deaths on a stampede.
- The spike in deaths following the attack pushed the toll in Gaza past 30,300 amid surging fears of starvation in the north of the territory. More than 70,300 have been injured, and thousands more are missing and presumed dead. Israeli military officials said at least 242 soldiers have been killed since the ground invasion of Gaza began.
Thousands join Israeli hostage families in march on Jerusalem
JERUSALEM — A march by thousands of Israelis demanding the release of hostages held in Gaza reached Jerusalem today as negotiators prepared to resume cease-fire negotiations in Cairo that would include a swap deal with Hamas.
A column of protesters, led by families of hostages seized by Palestinian militants during Hamas’ deadly rampage through southern Israel on Oct. 7, walked up the winding highway to Jerusalem, arriving at the city at sundown.
Holding up Israeli flags, yellow balloons and posters of the hostages, they concluded a four-day march that began at one of sites hit by the October attack, and were expected to be joined by more protesters at a rally outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence.
“We’re here marching in support of the families of those who are kidnapped, wishing that they will be released soon and that they will be safe. We’re praying for them in every step that we take,” said Danny Cuperman, one of the marchers.
Gaza truce talks are expected to resume in the Egyptian capital on Sunday. U.S. President Joe Biden has said he hopes a cease-fire will be in place by the time of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which starts on March 10.
Dozens of hostages could be freed if a deal is reached.
Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Jill Biden’s ‘Women for Biden-Harris’ tour
TUCSON, Ariz. — First lady Jill Biden spoke for only 14 minutes on the second leg of her “Women for Biden-Harris” tour — but that didn’t stop pro-Palestinian protesters from interrupting her remarks four separate times.
“It’s a genocide, Jill!” yelled one of the four demonstrators in Tucson on Saturday morning as he was being forcibly escorted out of the venue by security.
The main focus of the first lady’s remarks was supposed to be on women’s issues, including abortion rights, which could be on the ballot in Arizona come November.
“Extremist Republicans led by Donald Trump are passing laws that prevent women from getting the health care they need, including IVF,” said Biden.
But within 13 seconds of beginning her remarks, the first protester piped up.
Less than two minutes later, the second followed. And within 30 seconds of the second disruption, the first lady offered an explanation for keeping her appearance there so short.
“I’m sorry to have to come and go so quickly,” said Biden.
“Wind storms in Nevada are impacting my travel,” she added just after the demonstrator was hauled out of the theater.
U.S. humanitarian aid airdrop 'absolutely incomprehensible,' says Amnesty International crisis response adviser
The U.S. humanitarian aid airdrop into Gaza on Saturday is “absolutely incomprehensible” and “completely insufficient,” an Amnesty International adviser says.
“The decision of the United States to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza via airdrop is absolutely incomprehensible. It makes no sense whatsoever,” senior crisis response adviser Donatella Rovera told NBC News.
“Airdrops are only a last resort in situations where it is impossible to deliver aid either by road, by sea or by any other agreed means,” Rovera added.
The road network is excellent, and the entire length of the Gaza Strip is a coastline, according to Rovera. The problem lies in the U.S. being “unable to muster the political will” to deliver aid in a more efficient manner.
“The fact is that the United States administration has an enormous amount of leverage over Israel. The only reason why humanitarian aid isn’t getting in through the normal means is because the Israeli authorities say no,” Rovera stated.
IDF says airdropping aid makes 'fighting possible'
The airdropping of humanitarian aid in Gaza alleviates food shortages and “makes the fighting possible” for the Israel Defense Forces.
“Today, American and Jordanian planes dropped additional aid throughout the Strip. This is an effort that makes the fighting possible,” IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement Saturday.
“Following the incident during which dozens of Palestinians were killed during the entry of aid trucks to the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday morning, we are investigating this incident,” Hagari added.
Claims of purposefully destroying the aid convoy and deliberately harming people have no foundation, according to the IDF. They said they will present findings following their investigation of the incident.
Gaza Health Ministry reports attack on tents in Rafah
Eleven people were killed and about 50 others injured, the Gaza Health Ministry said today, following a strike on tents housing displaced people in the southern city of Rafah.
The tents were next to the gate of the Emirati Maternity Hospital, and the dead included a paramedic and a nurse, as well as children, the ministry added.
NBC News has reached out to the IDF for comment.
Israel has 'more or less accepted' framework for Gaza six-week cease-fire if Hamas agrees to release vulnerable hostages
Israel has essentially accepted the proposed framework of a Gaza cease-fire if Hamas agrees to release sick, elderly and women hostages, according to a U.S. senior administration official Saturday.
"There's a framework deal. The Israelis have more or less accepted it. And there will be a six-week cease-fire in Gaza starting today if Hamas agrees to release the defined category of vulnerable hostages," the senior official said on a National Security Council call to reporters.
The current deal is more complicated than the earlier cease-fire due to its length, but the six-week deal "has the potential to extend from there."
"We think we have the deal in place and we're going to just keep pushing at it," the senior administration official added.
Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin thanks U.S. and Jordanian armed forces for 'conducting this important mission'
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin acknowledged branches of the U.S. armed forces that participated in the airdrop of humanitarian assistance over Gaza Saturday in a statement on X.
"I want to thank @CENTCOM, @USAFCENT, @usarmycentral & the RJAF for conducting this important mission, which contributes to ongoing international and U.S. efforts to provide humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza," Austin said.
In photos: U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conduct a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Gaza
U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Gaza today.
U.S. Central Command worked with Royal Jordanian Air Force on airdrop
U.S. Central Command conducted a “combined humanitarian assistance airdrop” into Gaza with the Royal Jordanian Air Force to “provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.”
The U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft dropped over 38,000 meals along the coastline of Gaza between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. local time, U.S. Central Command said in a statement on X.
The operation included Jordanian C-130 aircraft and army soldiers from respective countries specializing in aerial supply delivery. They built bundles and ensured the safe drop of food aid.
“The DoD humanitarian airdrops contributes to ongoing U.S. government efforts to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza. We are conducting planning for potential follow-on airborne aid delivery missions,” the U.S. Central Command stated.
UNICEF explains benefits of airdrops for aid transportation
Aircraft used for food airdrops have more than triple the capacity of aid trucks, a UNICEF spokesperson told NBC News, reacting to the White House announcement that it would deliver aid to Gaza, which started on Saturday with the first airdrop.
“Flights are faster for longer distances,” according to UNICEF, and are primarily used to “meet urgent needs in emergencies or for shipments where cold chain and shelf life are important factors,” it added. Medical supplies such as vaccines, are only deliverable via air.
Most shipments are carried on regular scheduled passenger flights as belly cargo, according to the agency, although charter flights can be used in emergencies.
But the U.N.’s spokesperson for the secretary-general, Stéphane Dujarric, has said that while airdrops are an option, they are “challenging.”
Referring to problems faced in Syria in 2016, where airdrops of aid did not always land in target areas and were not received by teams on the ground, Dujarric said, “Ideally, we want to move things by road. We want more roads open, we want more entry points open.”