French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to open a major crossing to deliver much-needed aid into Gaza, AFP reports.

The Kerem Shalom checkpoint was responsible for 60 percent of goods getting into the besieged Palestinian territory.

UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths on Thursday said he saw promising signs that the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel into the Gaza Strip might be opened soon to allow in aid.

In a telephone conversation between the two leaders, Macron also spoke of “the need to protect civilians in Gaza and stressed the importance of achieving a lasting ceasefire”, said the Elysee.

He added that “Israel must take the necessary measures to put an end to the violence committed by settlers against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank”.