The initiative, which presented itself as neutral and independent, had first been discussed in private meetings of IDF officers and businesspeople with close ties to the Israeli government.

Israel appears to be changing tack as pressure mounts to get more aid into Gaza, and may let aid groups operating in the battered enclave take charge of non-food assistance.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Friday said Israel has only authorized for Gaza what "amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required" and again signaled that the U.N. won't take part in a new U.