The United States is sending three military aircraft to Egypt to bring vital humanitarian aid to Gaza during a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas, senior US officials said, AFP reports.

The relief flights carrying food, medical supplies and winter gear are the first by the US military since the conflict began. The flights start a day after US President Joe Biden said he would use an extension of the temporary truce to get more aid into Gaza, and as international efforts continue to further prolong the pause.

“We are very glad to announce we will have the first of three relief flights that are facilitated by the unique capabilities of the US military that will be arriving in North Sinai in Egypt”, one of the US officials said.

“This will be to bring a series of items — medical items, food aid, winter items, given that winter’s coming in Gaza — for the civilian population,” the official said in an embargoed call.

The United Nations will then take the aid from Egypt’s North Sinai region, which borders the Gaza Strip, into the stricken Palestinian territory itself, they said. Two further planeloads will arrive “in coming days”, they said.