BBC Joins Historic Mission to Bring Medical Supplies and Baby Formula to War-Torn Region

Jordanian helicopters have started delivering essential aid to Gaza, marking the first such operation since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The BBC was granted access to observe this crucial mission, which saw the helicopters land in Israeli-controlled southern Gaza, near the border and the town of Wadi al-Salqa.

The landing strip, surrounded by razor wire, only accommodates two Blackhawk helicopters at a time, with no personnel disembarking from the airstrip. Among the supplies were British contributions, including medical aid and baby formula, which require swift transportation to prevent spoilage.

As the helicopters approached the area, a barren and desolate landscape unfolded beneath the midday haze – a striking contrast to the hustle on the ground. The first to disembark were Jordanian air force personnel, who coordinated with the World Food Programme to ensure the supplies were received without delay.

On the ground, two trucks were already in position to take the supplies to the nearby town of Khan Younis. Despite the urgency of the operation, with 14 more helicopters waiting to follow, the loading process was swift and efficient. The rotors of the helicopters continued to spin as the operation unfolded under the watchful eyes of the air crew.

The area, which has been ravaged by over a year of conflict, showed clear signs of devastation, with what appeared to be Israeli digging machines working nearby. In total, 16 helicopters participated in the mission on Tuesday, delivering crucial medical supplies, including baby formula, to alleviate some of the suffering in Gaza.

Dr Mohammad al-Momani, the official spokesperson for Jordan’s government, described the situation in Gaza as “horrific” and “inhumane,” stressing that Jordan, in collaboration with the international community, was working to provide much-needed assistance to the region.

The court’s decision follows a series of violent attacks in China, including incidents involving foreign nationals, and highlights concerns among Japanese expatriates.

A Chinese man has been sentenced to death after being found guilty of fatally stabbing a 10-year-old Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen, southern China, last September. This decision, handed down on Friday, comes amid rising fears among Japanese expatriates living in China. The tragedy occurred shortly after another death sentence was delivered for a Chinese man who killed a Chinese woman while attacking a Japanese mother and her child in Suzhou province in June.

The growing number of high-profile executions in China has followed these incidents. The violence is part of a wider pattern of attacks on foreign nationals, with three separate incidents targeting foreigners last year. Prior to the Suzhou case, four US college instructors were injured in a knife attack at a park in Jilin, located in northern China.

In response to the attack in Shenzhen, major Japanese corporations such as Toshiba and Toyota advised their employees to take safety precautions, while Panasonic offered to cover the cost of flights for workers wishing to return to Japan.

The Suzhou attack occurred outside a Japanese school when Zhou Jiasheng, 52, carried out the assault after facing personal hardships, including losing his job and accumulating significant debts. The court in China ruled that the attack was premeditated, describing it as an “intentional murder.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi condemned the violence, stressing the profound social impact of the crime. He described the murder of innocent people, including a child, as “absolutely unforgivable.”

Notably, Chinese authorities did not reference Japan during the ruling, although Japanese consular officials were present. Hayashi also honoured the memory of Hu Youping, a Chinese bus attendant killed while attempting to protect the victims during the Suzhou attack.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning remarked that the case was “in judicial process” and reiterated that the government would continue to prioritise the safety of foreign nationals in the country. Meanwhile, China has faced an alarming rise in public violence, with many of the perpetrators believed to be driven by personal grievances and a desire for “revenge on society.”

There were 19 incidents of violence against pedestrians or strangers last year, an increase from the previous years. In one of the most shocking events, a man who killed at least 35 people in a car attack, thought to be the deadliest assault in a decade, was executed earlier this week. Last month, a man who murdered eight people in a stabbing spree at his university was sentenced to death. Additionally, in December, a man who injured 30 people by running over children and parents outside a primary school received a suspended death sentence.