France will air-drop aid into Gaza in coming days, a diplomatic source quoted by French news agency AFP said on Tuesday. The move comes as UN-backed experts warned the Israeli-blockaded Palestinian territory is slipping into famine.

France will air-drop 40 tonnes of aid into Gaza from Friday, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday, as UN-backed experts warned the Israel

The French president’s recognition of a Palestinian state tips the world diplomatic balance away from the U.S. and Israel.

The United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy will hold an emergency call on Friday to talk about the deteriorating conditions in Gaza as more than 100 aid groups warn mass starvation is fast approaching, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Thursday.

Amid growing fears of a looming famine in the war-torn Gaza Strip, France announced on Tuesday that it will begin air-dropping 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid starting Friday, in collaboration with Jordanian authorities.

Noël Barrot said the European Union is having “tough discussions” with Israel to help speed humanitarian and financial aid to Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza.

As the war in Gaza is about to enter its second year, FRANCE 24 welcomes Fady Hossam, a Gaza journalist and former FRANCE 24 producer recently evacuated with help from FRANCE 24 and the French government.

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza passed 60,000 on Tuesday. The world's leading authority on food crises said the “ worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out” in the territory of over 2 million people as starvation deaths rise.