US delivers 54,000 pounds of humanitarian supplies to Gaza

The U.S. said it had delivered more than 54,000 pounds of humanitarian supplies to Gaza on Tuesday as a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was extended amid prisoner releases.

The ceasefire has provided a window for humanitarian efforts in the small territory, where people have been running out of fuel, water and food amid bombing by Israel. Gaza is controlled by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

In a release, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said it had airlifted “24.5 metric tons, more than 54,000 pounds, of UN humanitarian supplies to provide vitally needed medical supplies and food and nutrition assistance to the people of Gaza.”

“A U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft delivered the items to Egypt, where they will be transported via ground into Gaza and then distributed by UN agencies,” it said.

The release said the U.S. is planning more flights “in coming days” and that it already has delivered over 500,000 pounds of food assistance in the last week. The flight Tuesday included medical supplies and “ready-to-use foods.”

The pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas was extended on Monday by two days after an initial truce was to last only for four days.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby has said the longer truce is expected to allow for the release of 20 more hostages taken by Hamas.  

“We want to see all the hostages out, and this is the best way to get them out,” Kirby told reporters. “We won’t breathe a sigh of relief until we know we’ve got today’s hostages out.”