TOP HEADLINES

? The EU has proposed to suspend free-trade arrangements on Israeli goods due to the war in Gaza, bloc foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas proposed a package of sanctions on two Israeli ministers, violent settlers and Hamas members. READ MORE BELOW

? More than 30 people have reportedly been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza on Wednesday. READ MORE BELOW

? The Israeli military said it is opening a temporary new route to allow people to flee Gaza City. READ MORE BELOW

? Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said China "firmly opposes Israel's escalation of military operations in Gaza and condemns all acts that harm civilians and violate international law".

? Canada's foreign ministry on Tuesday called Israel's new ground offensive in Gaza City "horrific" which "worsens the humanitarian crisis and jeopardizes the release of the hostages," in a post on X.

? Japan will not recognize a Palestinian state for now, a decision likely taken to maintain relations with the United States and to avoid a hardening of Israel's attitude, the Asahi newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing unidentified government sources.

? Iran executed a man accused of spying for Israel, according to a report from state media that identified him as Babak Shahbazi.

? Family members of Israeli hostages entered the court where Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is testifying while on trial for corruption charges and loudly protested before being removed by security officers, Israel's public broadcaster Kan reported.

? A coalition of advocacy organizations and fan groups called on European soccer federations to boycott Israel in a Times Square billboard that went live on Tuesday, kicking off the #GameOverIsrael campaign ahead of next summer's World Cup, being co-hosted by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

IN DETAIL

EU proposes sanctions package

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed to suspend free-trade arrangements on Israeli goods due to the war in Gaza, even though the measure does not currently have sufficient support among the European Union's member countries to pass.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also proposed a package of sanctions on two Israeli ministers, as well as violent settlers and Hamas members.

The package does not involve a suspension of trade with Israel, but will involve the introduction of tariffs on certain goods, rather than services, while general trade will continue under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

It will require unanimous support from all 27 EU members for ratification.

At least 33 dead as Israel's Gaza ground assault intensifies

There are reports that Israeli attacks across Gaza have killed at least 33 people on Wednesday, as the Israeli military steps up its ground assault on Gaza City.

Medical sources told Al Jazeera that the dead included 21 killed in Gaza City,

An Israel Defense Forces official said ground troops were moving deeper into the enclave's main city, and that the number of soldiers would rise in coming days to confront up to 3,000 Hamas combatants the IDF believes are still in the city.

"Gaza is burning," Defense Minister Israel Katz posted on X on Tuesday. "The IDF strikes with an iron fist at the terrorist infrastructure and IDF soldiers are fighting bravely to create the conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas."

In launching the assault, Israel's government defied European leaders threatening sanctions and warnings from even some of Israel's own military commanders that it could be a costly mistake.

U.S. President Donald Trump sided with Israel, telling reporters at the White House that Hamas would have "hell to pay" if it used hostages as human shields during the assault.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Trump had invited him to the White House in two weeks, after both men have addressed an annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.

In the latest expression of international alarm, a United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Israel called the assessment "scandalous" and "fake".

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that what is happening in Gaza was horrendous and that the war in the Palestinian territory was morally, politically and legally intolerable.

Palestinian local health authorities said an Israeli strike had hit a vehicle carrying displaced people fleeing south near the coastal road in Gaza City. Tuesday's death toll is reported to have reached 75, according to Reuters.

Israel says opening new route for Gazans fleeing embattled city

The Israeli military said on Wednesday it was opening "a temporary transportation route via Salah al-Din Street."

Its Arabic-language spokesman, Colonel Avichay Adraee, said the corridor would remain open for just 48 hours from midday (0900 GMT).

Until now, the army had urged people to flee south along the coastal road toward what it calls a humanitarian zone, including parts of Al-Mawasi.

Salah al-Din Street cuts through the territory from north to south.

The United Nations estimated at the end of August that about one million people lived in Gaza City and its surroundings.

After new waves of displacement, the Israeli army said that more than 350,000 had so far fled south.

But many Gazans say nowhere is safe and vow to stay in their homes.