UAE Airlifts Aid to Gaza, Marks 74th Airdrop Under ‘Birds of Goodness’

The United Arab Emirates has executed the 74th airdrop of humanitarian assistance over the Gaza Strip as part of its “Birds of Goodness” operation under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, coordinating the mission with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and engaging multiple international partners. Essential food supplies, prepared by Emirati charitable organisations, were delivered to support Gaza’s embattled population as the humanitarian crisis deepens. This airdrop brings the total volume of assistance to more than 4,004 tonnes, underscoring the UAE’s sustained and growing commitment to relief efforts in the region.

Humanitarian trajectories over the past several weeks reveal a steady escalation in assistance under this initiative. On 13 August 2025, the UAE conducted its 70th airdrop, raising total airborne aid to over 3,940 tonnes, with participation from Jordan and European nations including Germany, Italy, Belgium and France. Earlier, the 68th airdrop occurred on 11 August, bolstered by ground deliveries of 540 tonnes via 20 relief trucks, pushing total supplied aid beyond 3,908 tonnes. The 67th airdrop, launched on 9 August, crossed the 3,892-tonne mark.

In late July, the UAE resumed this air relief initiative following a hiatus of nearly nine months in the region, commencing with the 54th airdrop. This delivery marked the revival of operations, with total aid at that stage around 3,725 tonnes, dispatched by approximately 193 aircraft. The airdrop series continued with the 56th drop three days later, elevating cumulative delivery to about 3,763 tonnes across some 195 sorties. Listing developments further back, the 55th airdrop was carried out on the second successive day of deliveries.

International cooperation has been a hallmark of the initiative. From its restart, contributions extended beyond Jordan to include Germany, Italy, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Greece, depending on specific operations. These multinational partnerships have enhanced the scale and coordination of the humanitarian response.

On 27 July, Reuters reported on a specific operation conducted jointly by Jordan and the UAE, dropping 25 tonnes of aid into Gaza—the first such mission for several months—while affirming that these drops were supplementary to, not a substitute for, customary land-based delivery systems. This reflects an understanding among officials that while airdrops address immediate emergencies, sustained relief requires diverse logistical channels.

The airdrop operations directly address critical challenges posed by restricted ground access and intensifying conflict dynamics in Gaza. By deploying food and necessary goods from the air, the UAE and its allies aim to reach isolated and underserved areas that conventional aid routes are unable to service. As operations continue to scale up, with the 74th drop confirming more than 4,000 tonnes delivered by air alone, the UAE reiterates its central role in international humanitarian efforts—mobilising resources, forging alliances and leveraging airlift capacity to alleviate civilian suffering in real time.