RAF helps airdrop hundreds of tonnes of aid into Gaza as part of multinational mission

The Royal Air Force has taken part in the largest international airdrop of aid into Gaza in a single day.

Hundreds of tonnes of aid was dropped in the operation, which was led by the Jordanian armed forces and involved nine countries.

This was the RAF's sixth airdrop into Gaza and it coincided with Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.

• RAF successfully completes second airdrop of essential aid to Gaza
• RAF A400M Atlas drops seven tonnes of aid into Gaza in latest relief run from the UK
• RAF Atlas aircraft parachutes 10 tonnes of food aid into Gaza for the first time

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: "The prospect of famine in Gaza is real and today's international airdrop will provide life-saving food supplies for civilians.

"This is the sixth RAF airdrop in recent weeks, delivering over 53 tonnes of aid, including water, flour and baby formula.

"After six months of war in Gaza, the toll on civilians continues to grow. We continue to stand by Israel's right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists, who have failed the people of Gaza and hide behind civilians.

"This terrible conflict must end. The hostages must be released and the aid must flood in."

The RAF A400M Atlas flew from Amman in Jordan to airdrop more than 10 tonnes of aid, including ready-to-eat meals, water and rice, along the northern coastline of Gaza.

The flight took around an hour with other nations' aircraft dropping aid throughout the course of the day, the Ministry of Defence said.

During the last two weeks, more than 53 tonnes of aid on six flights have been aidropped by the RAF, and a Royal Navy ship is also en route to deliver more aid.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said: "Led by our Jordanian partners, we have joined nations around the world to mark the end of Ramadan by getting life-saving aid into Gaza.

"Thousands of people in desperate need will benefit from this united effort.

"The UK remains ready to play its part in getting supplies in by land, air and sea, but the people of Gaza need more.

"We continue to push Israel as hard as we can to get more aid across the border and delivered throughout the region.

"Words must turn into action – this is essential to avoid an even more severe humanitarian crisis."