A day after the deaths of 112 Palestinians queuing for aid threw a spotlight on an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in the crowded coastal enclave, US President Joe Biden has announced plans to carry out a first military airdrop of food and supplies into Gaza, Reuters reported.

In Gaza, Israel has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians in continuous bombardment since last year.

Biden said the US airdrop would take place in the coming days but offered no further specifics. Other countries, including Jordan and France, have already carried out airdrops of aid into Gaza.

“We need to do more and the United States will do more,” Reuters quoted Biden as saying to reporters. He added, “aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough.”

At the White House, spokesperson John Kirby emphasised that the airdrop initiative would be a continuous effort. He mentioned that the initial airdrop would likely consist of military MREs, or “meals ready-to-eat.”

Kirby underscored that this wouldn’t be a one-time occurrence, stating, “This isn’t going to be one and done.”

President Biden informed reporters that the US is exploring the option of establishing a maritime corridor to deliver substantial aid to Gaza.

Officials indicated that the airdrops might commence as early as this weekend.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 576,000 people in the Gaza Strip, equivalent to one-fourth of the population, are on the brink of famine.

Gaza health authorities reported that more than 100 people attempting to reach a relief convoy near Gaza City were killed by Israeli forces on Thursday.

The Palestinians are facing an increasingly dire situation almost five months into the conflict, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which Hamas forces said was in retaliation of occupational crimes committed by Israel.