The US military’s Central Command said US aircraft dropped “50,600 US meal equivalents” into northern Gaza on Thursday as part of a humanitarian effort to relieve severe food shortages in the besieged enclave.

CENTCOM said in a post on X that of the 80 bundles delivered, the parachutes for five bundles did not deploy, but “landed in a non-populated area and caused no damage”.

Jordan and the US, along with other allies, have been leading aid airdrop operations over Gaza in recent months. Israeli restrictions and inspection delays have limited the amount of humanitarian aid entering the besieged enclave via land routes, leaving northern Gaza on the verge of famine.