Samaritan’s Purse airlifts 100,000 pounds of aid to Gaza in inaugural flight for new aircraft

Samaritan’s Purse has delivered over 100,000 pounds of relief supplies to Gaza in its inaugural flight using a newly acquired 767 cargo plane. The aid, which includes food, blankets, and solar lights, was intended for civilians impacted by the ongoing conflict. This mission marked the first official operation of the aircraft, which transported more than 290,000 packets of ready-to-use supplemental food, along with thousands of solar lights and blankets for women and children.

Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, emphasized that the aircraft is “a tool that God can use to help save lives.” He highlighted the devastating impact of the war on millions of people in Gaza, stating that the organization aims to remind them “that God hasn’t forgotten them.” Samaritan’s Purse also expressed willingness to deploy an emergency field hospital if needed.

This year, the organization partnered with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a recently formed aid group supported by the United States and Israel, to deliver supplies and deploy medical staff into the conflict zone. The aid operations have included transporting large quantities of high-calorie, peanut-based food pouches produced by MANA Nutrition in Georgia, designed to address malnutrition.

Since the start of the war, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered more than 223 tons of supplemental food and distributed over 1 million food rations. Its medical teams have treated more than 1,700 patients. The distribution of the calorie-dense packets has focused on women and children at designated aid sites, where the group has also established First Aid stations staffed by medical teams.

Edward Graham, chief operating officer of Samaritan’s Purse and son of Franklin Graham, noted that Gaza remains one of the most challenging environments for humanitarian response. He expressed gratitude for the staff willing to serve, acknowledging their compassion and dedication to those in need.

The airlift is part of Samaritan’s Purse expanding its logistics capacity, enabled by the addition of the new aircraft. The organization continues its efforts to provide aid and medical support to civilians on both sides of the conflict, reflecting a commitment to care for the vulnerable and offer relief in times of crisis.

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