Israel has decided to temporarily open the Erez border crossing in northern Gaza to allow humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip.

Israel's war Cabinet said that at a meeting on Thursday night it approved the transportation of supplies from Ashdod port in Israel into the enclave through the crossing to increase humanitarian aid.

The crossing has been closed since fighting began between the Israeli military and Hamas in October.

The Cabinet says the increase in aid is to prevent a humanitarian crisis and necessary to ensure the continuation of the fighting and to reach the goals of the war.

On Monday, seven aid workers from an international NGO were killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza.

US President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington could review its policies if Israel does not change its responses.

Israel's decision to open the Erez crossing is seen as the country having accepted the US request. But it has not yet announced when the crossing will be opened or for how long. It is not clear whether the increase in supplies will be enough to stop a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

US news website Axios reported that CIA Director William Burns is expected to go to Egypt this weekend for talks with the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence service and officials from countries acting as mediators of the conflict.

Biden also reportedly asked Netanyahu to give enough authority to the Mossad chief to swiftly proceed with negotiations.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the opening of the crossing at a news conference in Belgium on Friday.

He said, "These are positive developments but the real test is results and that's what we're looking to see in the coming days and in the coming weeks."