(MENAFN) The Netherlands has begun daily airdrops of emergency aid over Gaza in response to what officials are calling a “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis, according to media.

The airlift operation, launched at the request of Jordan, received formal approval from the Dutch cabinet last week. Deliveries began Friday and are expected to continue for at least two weeks, media reported.

Parachute-equipped packages are being dropped over the besieged enclave and include critical supplies such as drinking water, medical aid, and shelf-stable food.

Simultaneously, the Dutch government has pulled export licenses for naval equipment bound for Israel, citing concerns over its use in military operations.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp explained the decision in a statement to lawmakers: “Given the current situation in Gaza, it is virtually impossible for a license to be granted for the export of weapons to Israel that could contribute to the activities of the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank.”

Veldkamp added that since October 2023, the government has blocked 11 applications for the export of military and dual-use goods linked to Israeli defense operations.

The move underscores growing international scrutiny of arms transfers amid the escalating humanitarian toll in Gaza.

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