Israel's military said that at least 106 packages of aid were airdropped Saturday as Italy and Greece joined the multicountry effort for the first time. Footage from Italy's defense ministry showed not only packages being parachuted over Gaza but the dry and devastated landscape below.

The military leadership has said it prefers a new cease-fire instead of renewed fighting, and the military’s chief of staff previously raised concerns about troop exhaustion.

After Israel's security cabinet OK'd Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to control Gaza, he said military will "free Gaza from Hamas" and not occupy it.