Tel Aviv, 5 April 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Israel wants to take "immediate steps" to increase humanitarian aid for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli war cabinet announced early on Friday morning.

The announcement was reported by the Israeli newspapers Haaretz and Times of Israel, citing a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to the statement, the port of Ashdod and the Erez border crossing would be temporarily opened, making it easier for aid to reach the north of the Gaza Strip, which is particularly affected by food shortages.

Aid supplies coming from Jordan via the Kerem Shalom border crossing would also be increased.

"This increased aid will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is essential to ensure the continuation of the fighting and achieve the goals of the war," Haaretz quoted from the Israeli statement.

The announcement was made shortly after a telephone conversation between US President Joe Biden and Netanyahu.

In the conversation, according to the White House, Biden had called on the Israeli Prime Minister to take a series of "specific, concrete and measurable steps" to reduce the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip and increase protection for volunteers.

Future US policy on Gaza depends on how Israel implements these measures, Biden warned.

Photo: EPA