Canadian Forces airdrop humanitarian aid into Gaza for the first time
CBC News had exclusive access to the Canadian effort, which delivered food supplies like lentils, oil, milk powder and pasta using a CC-130J Hercules aircraft that departed from a Jordanian airbase.
The drop was part of an attempt by six countries to alleviate the hunger crisis in the Palestinian territory.
"Canada is taking these exceptional measures with our international partners as access to humanitarian aid in Gaza is severely restricted and humanitarian needs have reached an unprecedented level," Global Affairs Canada said in a statement published Monday afternoon.
"Despite the scale of need, humanitarian partners face severe challenges in delivering life-saving food and medical assistance by land due to ongoing restrictions imposed by the Israeli government."
In an interview with CBC News, Maj. Cam MacKay with the 436 Transport Squadron said the team "is very motivated to do this mission."
"There are people that are very much in need of that aid on the ground, and for us to be able to assist Global Affairs Canada and being able to deliver that aid, it feels very good," he said.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on social media that "120 aid packages containing food for the residents of the Gaza Strip were airdropped by six different countries, including Canada, which joined the airdrop operations for the first time today."
The other five countries were Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Germany and Belgium, the IDF said.
Palestinians plead for more aid
CBC News' freelance videographer in Gaza, Mohamed El Saife, captured footage on the ground at the same time as the Canadian plane was over Gaza. It was a chaotic scene as Palestinians rushed to an aid dropsite in the Nuseirat area in central Gaza.
Upon arrival at the site, men and women pushed each other, and some children could be seen climbing over the desperate crowds to get closer to the humanitarian aid.
"Look at the humiliation so I could get [aid]," 30-year-old Muhammad Ammar said in Arabic. "Everyone is cutting and killing people because they torment us. They don't want us to eat."
Ahmad Ayesh, 26, was holding a can of food that was completely crushed as crowds rushed to pick up the aid. Ayesh told CBC News that "of course we feel humiliated. Open the [border] crossings and let aid through normally."
Israel has slightly loosened its tight restrictions on food and medicine reaching the Gaza Strip in response to an international outcry over starvation in the Palestinian territory.
Aid experts have said that airdrops are vastly less effective than truck convoys. Some of the pallets dropped by air earlier this week have fallen into the sea, and at least one has struck and killed Palestinians on the ground.
Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza and says it is taking steps for more aid to reach its population, including airdrops, pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.
WATCH | Palestinians describe violent and chaotic conditions at airdrops:
Palestinians scramble for aid after airdrop
5 days ago
As the hunger crisis in Gaza deepens, the arrival of an aid plane — part of a joint operation by Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates — over Al-Zawayda on Wednesday sent people running and climbing over walls to retrieve its precious cargo, as some decried the chaotic conditions. 'Do I have to die so I can get it?' one man said.
Karen Bongard, political counsellor of the Canadian Embassy in Jordan, told CBC News that "the level of humanitarian crisis in Gaza is intolerable, and Canada understands that airdrops are insufficient to meet the full needs of the people on the ground in Gaza."
"However, when there's this level of human suffering, inaction is not an option.... Airdrops are a last resort, but Canada stands committed to peace and security in this region and will continue to intensify our efforts to reach our goals," Bongard said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said on social media on Monday afternoon that the Canadian Forces airdropped "life-saving aid into Gaza" and that Canada is working with international partners "to develop a credible peace plan and will ensure aid moves forward at the necessary scale."
Canada plans to recognize Palestinian state
The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's offensive has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
Last week, Carney cited Israel's aid restrictions and the need to preserve a path to a two-state solution as reasons for declaring that Canada would officially recognize the state of Palestine.
He said the move is conditional on the Palestinian Authority undertaking serious reforms and holding an election next year for the first time in two decades.
WATCH | PM Mark Carney says Canada will recognize Palestinian state:
Carney announces Canada will recognize Palestinian state in September
5 days ago
At a news conference Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, but the West Bank's governing body must agree to certain conditions including committing to holding an election in 2026.
Canada has for years called for a two-state solution, which means the eventual creation of a Palestinian state that would exist in peace alongside Israel.
Before last week's announcement, Ottawa had been suggesting this would come at the end of peace talks between Palestinian and Israeli leaders.
But the federal government said last fall that recognition might come sooner because of the spread of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza since the start of Israel's military operation. Carney cited both concerns in his announcement on Wednesday.
Iddo Moed, Israel's ambassador to Canada, told CBC's Power & Politics the same day that Canada's decision would "embolden" Hamas.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Push to restart Sea-to-Sky passenger rail service
Vancouver Watch With CN Rail ending operations on its rail corridor from Squamish to 100 Mile House, some transit advocates see an opportunity.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Tenants of Sudbury residential complex waiting 8 months for elevator to be repaired
Residents at 285 Lourdes Street in Sudbury, many elderly or with mobility issues, struggle with stairs as elevator repairs drag on. Angela Gemmill reports. Tenants at 285 Lourdes Street in Greater Sudbury are fed up with how long it's taken to fix their broken elevator. For the past eight months they've had to climb the stairs up and down if they want to leave their apartments in the five-story complex. Many of the residents are elderly or have either health or mobility issues so taking the stairs each time is exhausting. 'When I get home, I put my parcels – I just drop them on the floor and I go lay down on my couch for a few minutes to get my energy back,' said Linda Pharand, who lives on the fourth floor. Linda Pharand Linda Pharand, a fourth floor resident, of 285 Lourdes Street in Greater Sudbury, a five-story residential complex that has had not fuctional elevator since November 2024, speaks with CTV News outside the building on August 6, 2025. (Angela Gemmill/CTV News Northern Ontario) Victor Pegg must undergo dialysis three times a week. 'I come down around six in the morning; I'm there four hours before I come home and then I've got to get back up them frigging stairs. My knees are going, my ankles are going,' he said. The elevator stopped working in November 2024. The tenants say they've been told different timelines by the property management company about when the elevator will be fixed. 'We understand that can take some time, however we're coming on nine months. It's getting to the point where we're suffering now,' said Andrea Gustafson, who lives on the fifth floor. Andrea Gustafson Andrea Gustafson, a fifth floor resident, of 285 Lourdes Street in Greater Sudbury, a five-story residential complex that has had not fuctional elevator since November 2024, speaks with CTV News in the building's lobby on August 6, 2025. (Angela Gemmill/CTV News Northern Ontario) She calls the situation 'dehumanizing' for all the tenants. 'I feel like the property management company should be updating us and should be trying their best to accommodate us like they promised they would,' Gustafson said. 'We're disabled and we're trying to do these stairs. We've injuring ourselves on these stairs and we're telling Luxor Property Management, but unfortunately, it's falling on deaf ears.' The building is owned by Centreville Non-Profit Housing but run by Luxor Property Management. In an email, the property manager told CTV News they're waiting for a part and that repairs should be completed next week, adding that just one company is licensed to work on this elevator. No one from the board of directors with the non-profit was available for comment. The City of Greater Sudbury's Bylaw Services is aware of the situation. 'While we can't disclose property-specific information about ongoing matters, Bylaw Services is aware of the issue with the elevator and per the Property Standards Act. We are working with the property owner and management of 285 Lourdes St. to have the issue resolved.' — City of Greater Sudbury, statement to CTV News The Ontario Residential Tenancies Act does not give a specific timeframe for when a landlord must complete repairs. It only says they must handle them 'within a reasonable amount of time.' If a tenant feels their requests are being ignored, they can file a complaint with the Landlord and Tenant Board. The Landlord and Tenant Board confirms there are no applications open for 285 Lourdes Street. Justyne Albert and Michael Larocque live on the second floor and admit they're not struggling as much as others in the building are. However, the couple lives right over the front entrance of the building and is frequently disrupted by people yelling up to other tenants. 'There's been a lot of people always screaming out at 4, 6 in the morning and the middle of the night. There's no security,' Laroque said. 'We feel like prisoners in our own home,' Albert added.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Edmonton community league offering free weekly yoga classes
Edmonton Watch The Cumberland Oxford Community League is offering free yoga classes for Edmontonians. CTV News Edmonton's Sasha Pietramala has the details.
