US makes second humanitarian aid air drop into Gaza including more than 36,000 meals a day after VP Harris voices 'deep concern' for civilians and called for a ceasefire

American forces in the Middle East made a second humanitarian aid air drop into Gaza with the help of the Royal Jordanian Air Force Tuesday, US Central Command said in a statement. 

According to CENTCOM, the aid was dropped around 2:30pm Gaza time and contained around 36,000 meals. The operation was conducted by members of the US Army and Air Force. 

The statement said that the Department of Defense will continue to drop aid into the areas of the territory most impacted by Israel's continued assaults in the wake of Hamas' brutal attack on the Jewish State on October 7. 

As the aid was delivered, ceasefire talks between Hamas and mediators broke up in Cairo without any agreement, with just days left to halt the fighting before Ramadan beqgins. 

Meanwhile in Washington DC, Vice President Kamala Harris met with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's wartime cabinet, whose visit is in defiance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss a cease fire as well as the release of hostages.

The vice president, over the weekend, called for 'an immediate ceasefire' in Gaza and for Hamas to accept the deal currently on the table. It was the most strident comments to date from a member of Biden's administration.

This handout picture released by the Jordanian army on March 5, 2024, shows humanitarian aid being airdropped from a military aircraft over the Gaza Strip

According to CENTCOM, the aid was dropped around 2:30pm Gaza time and contained around 36,000 meals

Vice President Kamala Harris (left) will meet with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz (right) at the White House in defiance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

US Army soldiers shown moving the aid packed aid packages on Tuesday morning 

The statement said that the Department of Defense will continue to drop aid into the areas of the territory most impacted by Israel's continued assaults

But it also led to questions on whether Harris and Biden disagree on the Israel-Hamas war. The former senator from California has maintained that she and the president are 'aligned and consistent' on Israel. 

Last Thursday, more than 100 people were killed when crowds rushed towards an aid convoy on the outskirts of Gaza city. Hamas has accused the Israeli military of opening fire, the incident remains under investigation. 

On Saturday, the US began the first of what it said would be a series of humanitarian airdrops of food into Gaza, as aid agencies warned of a growing humanitarian disaster in the Palestinian enclave in the absence of a ceasefire deal.

Three C-130 U.S. military planes delivered more than 38,000 meals into a territory where the United Nations says at least 576,000 people are one step away from famine conditions. 

Palestinians posted videos on social media showing boxes of aid being dropped. Jordanian forces also participated in that operation.

The White House has said the airdrops would be a sustained effort, and that Israel supports them. Critics say airdrops are far less effective than aid deliveries by truck, and it is nearly impossible to ensure supplies do not end up with militants.

'Israel welcomes the humanitarian airdrops by the U.S., which were discussed and coordinated with us,' said an Israeli official in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A senior U.S. official said the framework for a deal on a six-week ceasefire was in place on Sunday, with Israel's agreement, and depended on the militant group Hamas agreeing to release hostages.

'The hostages have to be released,' the official told reporters. 'The deal is basically there. But I don't want to create expectations one way or the other.'

In Jerusalem, thousands of Israelis marched to demand the release of about 134 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Protesters, led by families of hostages seized during Hamas' deadly rampage through southern Israel on Oct. 7, arrived at the city at sundown.

President Joe Biden, Harris and other senior administration officials have become increasingly blunt about their dissatisfaction with the mounting death toll in Gaza and the suffering of innocent Palestinians as the war nears the five-month mark.