Pakistan, July 31 -- Flying above the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, a Jordanian military aircraft parachuted food crates to starving civilians as part of an emergency relief effort. The mission, joined by a second aircraft from the United Arab Emirates, released packages of sugar, pulses, and baby milk into areas devastated by nearly 22 months of war and a crippling blockade. The aid drop comes as more than two million Palestinians face extreme food shortages.

During the operation, the Jordanian crew whispered prayers while pushing food pallets out of the aircraft's rear hatch. Parachutes carrying crates marked with Jordan's flag floated down to the ground. Although journalists aboard the flight could film the airdrop, they were restricted fro...