Dave Harden, former USAID director to the West Bank, has told Al Jazeera that airdrop deliveries planned by the US are a “symbolic” and ineffective way of delivering aid to the Gaza Strip.

“The airdrops are symbolic and designed in ways to appease the domestic base,” he said. “Really what needs to happen is more crossings [opening] and more trucks going in every day.”

Airdrops recently delivered by the Jordanian air force ended up in the sea and in Israeli territory due to strong winds. Footage showed large crowds on the shore in Deir el-Balah scrambling into the sea to fetch the aid, which had been spoiled by the salty water.

Harden said high-altitude airdrops are conducted to minimise the danger of flying at lower altitudes, making this an inefficient and risky way of delivering aid.

“I think the United States is weak and that’s really disappointing to me,” he added. “The US has the ability to compel Israel to open up more aid and by not doing that we’re putting our assets and our people at risks and potentially creating more chaos in Gaza.”