Joe Biden said Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had agreed to open the Rafah border crossing to allow about 20 humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza, Sky News reported.

Mr. Biden praised Mr. El-Sisi for the decision, saying that “Sisi deserves real credit for being conciliatory.”

If Hamas confiscates the aid, “that will be the end,” he said. Representatives of the White House said that the help will arrive already on Friday, when the roads will be repaired.

Aid workers in Gaza have repeatedly warned of a crisis in the region as supplies of food, water and energy run out.

Earlier, Israel said it would not block water, food and medicine entering Gaza from Egypt in response to a request by the US president.

The White House said Biden and El-Sisi “agreed to work closely together” on an “urgent and robust international response” to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The statement said the two leaders also agreed on the need to maintain stability in the Middle East and prevent conflict from escalating.

Egypt’s presidency said that during a telephone conversation, the two leaders discussed ways to speed up the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Meanwhile, Biden’s speech on the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the war in Ukraine is scheduled for Thursday.