Israel on Friday announced “temporary” measures to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza through Israel’s northern border.

Temporary measures include the reopening of the Erez crossing and the use of Ashdod port. The Erez crossing is the only passenger hub for people traveling to and from Gaza. Meanwhile, humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza will be processed through the Israeli port of Ashdod. Jordanian aid will also be processed there.

“Increased aid will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is necessary to ensure that the fighting continues and war objectives are achieved,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

Israel’s announcement on Friday followed a tense phone call between Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden.

Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that continued U.S. support for Israel’s war with Hamas will depend on how Israel takes new steps to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza and humanitarian workers trying to deliver food to them .

Days after Israeli forces launched an airstrike that killed seven international aid workers, Biden stressed to Israeli leaders in a phone call that “attacks on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable,” the White House said.

Biden called for new measures to protect civilians and an “immediate ceasefire” in the nearly six-month conflict, the statement said.

Biden “made clear that Israel needs to announce and implement a set of concrete, concrete and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers,” the White House said in a readout of the half-hour call. . He made clear that U.S. policy toward Gaza will depend on our assessment of Israel taking these immediate steps. “

“If we don’t see the changes we need to see, our policies will change,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Brussels.

When asked at a White House press briefing whether the United States would cut off military aid to Israel, national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters, “I’m not going to preview a decision that hasn’t been made yet, but there are things that need to be done. Things. Too many civilians were killed.”

Asked about the timing of any new Israeli measures to protect Palestinian civilians, Kirby said: “We expect there will be some announcements from Israel in the coming hours and days, but I want to respect their right to manage this process themselves. .”my own. “

Israel had no immediate comment on the U.S. request.

Israel’s main ally, the United States, has staunchly backed the Jewish state’s war against Hamas, which began after the militant group launched a terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 people and left about 250 injured. Hostages were captured.

Israel’s subsequent counteroffensive has killed more than 33,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel said the death toll included thousands of militants.

Ceasefire talks have stalled, but the White House said Biden “stressed” to Netanyahu that an “immediate ceasefire is critical to stabilizing and improving the humanitarian situation and protecting innocent civilians,” and he urged the prime minister to authorize negotiators to reach an immediate agreement that would Take the hostages home.”

The White House said the two leaders also discussed Iranian threats to Israel and the Israeli people, with the U.S. leader making clear that the United States “firmly supports Israel in confronting these threats.”

Meanwhile, more calls were made on Thursday for Israel to take responsibility for an airstrike on a convoy in Gaza that killed seven aid workers at the World Central Kitchen.

The food charity said it was asking Australia, the UK, Canada, Poland and the US to “carry out an independent third-party investigation into these attacks, including whether they were carried out deliberately or in breach of international law”.

Those killed in Monday’s attack included a Palestinian, three British citizens, a Polish citizen, an Australian and a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen.

“An independent investigation is the only way to establish the truth of the incident, ensure transparency and accountability of those responsible, and prevent further attacks on humanitarian aid workers,” World Central Kitchen said in a statement.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Thursday that he was not satisfied with Israel’s response “including that it was just a product of war.”

“International humanitarian law is very clear that aid workers should be able to provide assistance and not face the threat of losing their lives while doing so,” Albanese said.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a news conference on Thursday that Poland wanted an explanation for what happened and compensation for the families of the victims.

The Pentagon said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin “expressed outrage” at the Israeli attack in a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Galant on Wednesday.

“Secretary Austin stated that this tragedy heightened concerns about potential Israeli military action in Rafah, particularly the need to ensure the evacuation of Palestinian civilians and the flow of humanitarian assistance,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said. in a statement.

Austin also noted the need for a rapid increase in the amount of aid entering Gaza in the coming days, “especially for communities in northern Gaza that are at risk of famine,” Ryder said.

Israeli Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Hezi Halevi called the attack a “serious mistake” and blamed it on a “misidentification” at night.

Netanyahu promised a “thorough” investigation into the “tragic case.”

Information for this report was obtained in part from The Associated Press, Reuters and AFP.