Israel will open crossing for aid to enter Gaza tonight

Israel will open crossing for aid to enter Gaza tonight

Israel has told Sky News it will open a crossing to allow aid trucks into Gaza tonight. 

A spokesman for COGAT, the Israeli body which coordinates humanitarian aid to Gaza, has told our US correspondent Mark Stone the crossing is next to Erez. 

The Port of Ashdod will open to humanitarian aid "in the coming days", he added. 

The intention to open the new crossing and port were announced by the Israeli government last week following a phone call between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The original crossing between Israel and Gaza at Erez was heavily damaged during fighting on 7 October, so the aid is expected to cross the border via a newly constructed unofficial crossing point.