Israel will open a new land crossing into the Gaza Strip designed mainly to facilitate deliveries to Palestinians of aid from overseas or neighbouring Jordan, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said.

Briefing reporters, Gallant said a new crossing point would be created on the northern part of the Gaza border to reduce the time taken to truck in aid from Ashdod, 40 km (25 miles) away.

An aide said the crossing point would be between the Israeli village of Zikim and the Palestinian village of As-Siafa, Reuters reports.

Gallant said the new crossing point would boost the delivery of aid brought in overland from Jordan, to Israel’s east.

“These breakthroughs have a direct impact on the flow of aid – we plan to flood Gaza with aid,” he said. “It will also streamline security checks and strengthen our work with international partners.”