Israel approves opening of two humanitarian routes into Gaza after call with Biden

Israel has agreed to reopen two border crossings into Gaza after the cabinet approved a series of “immediate steps” amid pressure over the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Strip.

The Erez crossing in northern Gaza will be opened for the first time since the conflict began on 7 October and Ashdod Port will be opened to allow aid shipments, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Friday.

«This increased aid will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is necessary to ensure the continuation of the fighting and to achieve the goals of the war,» Mr Netanyahu’s office said.

The decision follows US president Joe Biden’s first phone call to the Israeli prime minister since the drone strike on the vehicles of seven charity workers killed in Gaza.

Mr Biden told MrNetanyahu that future US policy towards Israel will be determined by whether its government takes action to protect aid workers and civilians in Gaza. He asked Mr Netanyahu «to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers», according to the readout.

Concerns have been raised over evidence of humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza turning into a man-made famine after nearly six months of war.

The UN’s human rights chief Volker Turk on 19 March said that Israeli actions could amount to using starvation as a “weapon of war” and would prove to be a war crime if proven. Tel Aviv has rejected the allegations and dismissed the dire warnings.

The Erez crossing, a heavily fortified pedestrian passageway, has been the only passenger terminal for the people to move in and out of the territory.

But it was heavily damaged when it was breached by Hamas fighters during 7 October attacks and has remained closed since.

The UN and the US National