Cyprus and Israel are close to reaching an agreement to open a humanitarian aid corridor from the Mediterranean island to Gaza, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said, AFP reports.

Under the plan put forward by Cyprus, aid would be collected, inspected and stored in Cyprus and then sent to the Gaza Strip on ships checked daily by a joint committee including Israel.

The vessels would be accompanied by warships to a designated spot identified on the coast of Gaza, from where it would be sent to a safe, neutral area.

“We are in contact with Israel to implement some final arrangements,” Christodoulides told reporters, adding the details were also being discussed with the United Nations.