The first shipment of humanitarian aid airlifted from Italy to Gaza was dropped on Saturday into the Strip.

The operation by carried by an Italian Air Force C-130 in an attempt to help the struggling and hungry Palestinian population.

Further airdrops will follow, totaling 100 tons of food supplies, and departing from the Amman base in Jordan.

As part of the Solidarity Path 2 mission, Italy and Jordan are conducting joint efforts to enable the air dropping of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Humanitarian agencies have said the airdrops are not effective for a territory like Gaza.

They are expensive and can be dangerous, falling over tents or people in the small, overcrowded areas where more than 2 million Palestinians are living, they say.

Israel said Friday it will intensify its 22-month war with Hamas by taking over Gaza City, stirring fears for people in the Strip and Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, and renewing international pressure for an end to the conflict