A government spokesperson has said that Jordan has begun air deliveries of 20 tonnes of aid to Gaza as masses of displaced Palestinians return to the north of the wrecked territory, AFP reports.

Fourteen Jordanian air force helicopters and two provided by the Italian military took off from King Abdullah II air base in the country’s north to fly food and medical supplies into Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

The deliveries kick off what Jordan said would be eight days of shipments. An AFP journalist was on board one of the helicopters, which landed at the Kissufim crossing to Israel.

“The launch of the air corridor coincides with the return of hundreds of thousands of people to the north of the Gaza Strip, and aims to alleviate their suffering,” Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad Momani told a news conference.