Opinion: Gaza aid drops: A salve for western guilt

Bulging eyes, visible ribcages and children’s cries from hunger are no longer rare sights and sounds in Gaza; they are the norm. But this famine is not caused by a lack of food; it is caused by politics, blockade and the deliberate obstruction of access.

While airdropped aid may offer limited relief to Gaza’s starving civilians, it also serves a broader political purpose. For western governments - many of which have staunchly supported Israel throughout the conflict - such symbolic gestures help deflect mounting criticism. 

By backing airdrops, they can project humanitarian concern while distancing themselves from the uncomfortable reality that their allies’ policies have played a central role in creating the conditions for mass starvation. 

At the same time, the method allows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to frame the aid as a concession to international pressure, rather than as an operation facilitated or permitted by Israel itself.

For months, Netanyahu has aligned himself with the hardline vision of far-right members of his cabinet - both to preserve his governing coalition and out of personal conviction. 

Read more: Gaza aid drops: A salve for western guilt Opinion by Iyad Yousef