Biden says US to carry out airdrops of aid into Gaza in coming days
President Joe Biden on Friday said the U.S. would carry out airdrops of humanitarian aid into Gaza in the coming days.
"We need to do more, and the United States will do more,” Biden said. "In the coming days we’re going to join with our friends in Jordan and others in providing airdrops of additional food and supplies."
He said the U.S. is also looking at the possibility of a marine corridor to deliver "large amounts of humanitarian assistance," in addition to expanding land deliveries.
"We're gonna insist that Israel facilitate more trucks and more routes to get more and more people the help they need," Biden said.
"Innocent lives are on the line, and children's lives on the line," he said.
Biden called Thursday's killing of over 100 civilians waiting for aid "tragic and alarming," adding that the "loss of life is heartbreaking."
White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said the airdrops will not be a "one and done" operation and will be the start of a "sustained effort" over the coming weeks.
"With each one, I think we'll learn more and we'll get better at them," Kirby said.
Kirby explained that it will be "extremely difficult" to conduct airdrops in a densely populated environment like Gaza.
"The biggest risk is making sure that nobody gets hurt on the ground. And so, you got to locate out areas to drop that you know will be safe for people so that they don't become victims of the drop itself," he said.
Kirby also noted that the airdrops are "not a replacement for moving things in by ground."
-ABC News' Justin Gomez