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Ottawa, August 4, 2025 — The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have delivered 21,600 pounds of humanitarian aid to Gaza via CC-130J Hercules aircraft, in response to escalating humanitarian needs in the region. The operation was coordinated by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and supported by international partners, including Jordan.
🚨 Humanitarian Crisis and Legal Accusations
In its official statement, GAC condemned the Israeli government’s restrictions on land-based aid delivery, describing them as a “violation of international humanitarian law”. The agency emphasized that access to humanitarian assistance in Gaza remains severely restricted, and that the scale of need has reached unprecedented levels.
“This obstruction of aid is a violation of international humanitarian law and must end immediately,” GAC stated.
🤝 International Coordination
Canada’s airdrop follows a similar mission by the Belgian Defence, which delivered 30,000 pounds of aid on August 3 as part of the Cerulean Skies 2 initiative led by Jordan. The Belgian military confirmed the drop via social media and announced plans for additional deliveries.
⚖️ Criticism from Human Rights Groups
Despite the urgency of the situation, Amnesty International and 25 NGOs criticized airdrops as insufficient. They urged governments to take stronger action, including halting arms transfers that could contribute to international crimes and enforcing an immediate ceasefire.
“States cannot hide behind airdrops… Their primary responsibility is to prevent atrocity crimes and apply effective political pressure,” the joint NGO statement read.
🕊️ Political Developments
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced plans to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September, contingent on conditions including demilitarization. The announcement follows a petition signed by nearly 20,000 Canadians urging the government to support humanitarian aid and deploy peacekeeping forces to Gaza.
💰 Canada’s Ongoing Commitment
Canada has pledged over $355 million in aid to Palestinian civilians since October 2023. This includes:
- $30 million announced in July 2025 for humanitarian operations in Gaza and the West Bank
- $10 million to support governance efforts via the World Bank
- Support for logistical operations through the Jordanian Corridor
- Collaboration with UN and Red Cross partners to scale up aid delivery
Sources:
- Excerpts from jurist.org article by Drew Meetze | U. Ottawa Faculty of Law, CA
