Social media has been buzzing recently with claims that China has been dropping food and medical supplies to Gaza from the air.
The posts, which feature footage of a C-17 aircraft releasing pallets of aid, have been widely shared, with captions praising China’s humanitarian efforts and presenting it as a contrast to Western inaction. However, a closer look at the evidence shows that these claims are simply not true.
[…]
The viral videos and images typically show a C-17 aircraft performing airdrops. Social media users, including popular profiles on TikTok, have posted messages claiming that the Chinese Air Force flew over Egypt to deliver aid to Gaza. One widely circulated post stated: “Chinese airforce flew over Egypt to reach Gaza to provide humanitarian aid.” Others paint China as a humanitarian powerhouse, taking bold action where others haven’t.
[…]
The problem with these claims? China doesn’t even operate the C-17 aircraft. The C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport plane used mainly by the United States and several allied countries, but not by China. That fact alone should be enough to raise doubts.
[…]
Investigations into the footage reveal that most of the clips circulating online actually show a United States aid airdrop over Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, from March 2024. The same tower and parachutes seen in the misleading videos confirm that these clips have been repurposed to create a false narrative. This key detail debunks the notion that Chinese planes were involved.
[…]
Despite the dramatic presentation, there’s no credible evidence that Chinese planes have been involved in any airdrop missions to Gaza.