Cyprus has said it is intensifying efforts to get concrete support to open a maritime corridor for the delivery of aid to Gaza from the eastern Mediterranean island, AFP reports.

“Cyprus is ready to contribute to establishing a maritime corridor from Cypriot ports to deliver aid to Gaza,” Christodoulides said.

“Today, I will speak again with the prime minister of Israel, as well as with the heads of EU institutions and with the United States, to see how we proceed with implementing this initiative of the Republic of Cyprus,” he added.

He said the country — the nearest EU member state to the Gaza Strip — is “ready to play a substantial role”.

Cyprus says its proximity to Gaza — about 370 kilometres (230 miles) to the northwest — and good diplomatic relations with Arab neighbours and Israel make it an ideal staging post for aid.