Israel and Cyprus have agreed to pursue ways to set up a maritime aid corridor to Gaza, a move Israel said was an “important step” towards disengaging economically from the enclave it has invaded to wipe out Hamas fighters, Reuters reports.

Cyprus, the closest European Union member state to the Middle East, has offered to host and operate facilities for sustained aid directly into the Gaza Strip once the devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas ends.

Should the plan materialise, it will be the first time an Israeli naval blockade on Gaza is eased since it was first imposed by Israel in 2007, after Hamas seized control of the Palestinian territory.

“International aid, well supervised, will help the region gain more stability and prosperity,” Cohen said after talks with his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos.

The overall objective, Cohen said, was to create a “fast track” for humanitarian aid to be delivered via a sea corridor. Technical teams from the two countries would be discussing the matter further on Wednesday and Thursday, he said.

“Our aim is to have all the details agreed as soon as possible,” Cohen said.