The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it will open a temporary new route to allow people to escape Gaza City, as it continued its major ground assault aimed at destroying Hamas.
The Israeli military launched a heavy bombardment of Gaza City before dawn on Tuesday and pushed its troops further into the Gaza Strip's largest urban center.
Meanwhile, a United Nations (UN) investigation accused Israel of committing "genocide" in the Palestinian territory, stating that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials had incited the crime.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it was creating "a temporary transportation route via Salah al-Din Street." Its Arabic spokesman, Colonel Avichay Adraee, explained that the corridor would remain open for only 48 hours starting at midday on Wednesday.
The UN estimated at the end of August that approximately one million people lived in Gaza City and its surrounding areas.
The Israeli army reported on Wednesday that "more than 350,000" had so far fled south. Many Palestinians interviewed by AFP in Gaza insist there is no safe place in the territory and say they would rather die in their homes than be displaced again.
Hamas said the assault was "systematic ethnic cleansing targeting our people in Gaza."
On Tuesday, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI), which does not speak for the world body, found that "genocide is occurring in Gaza and is continuing to occur," said Navi Pillay, head of the COI.
Israel said it "categorically rejects this distorted and false report" and called for the "immediate abolition" of the COI.
On Wednesday, Qatar became the latest country to urge Israel to stop its assault on Gaza City, calling it "an extension of its genocidal war against the Palestinian people."
EU proposes Israeli trade, sanctions
The European Commission stated on Wednesday that it has submitted a proposal to the Council of the European Union (EU), recommending a partial suspension of trade preferences granted to Israel, along with sanctions on certain Israeli ministers, settlers, and related entities.
According to a senior EU official, the move does not equate to stopping trade with Israel but involves suspending its preferential treatment under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Once in effect, Israeli exports to the EU would be subject to the World Trade Organization's most-favored-nation (MFN) rules, leading to higher tariffs.
According to EU trade data, Israel's goods exports to the EU totaled about 15.9 billion euros (roughly $18.8 billion) in 2024. The EU is Israel's biggest trading partner, making up around 32 percent of its global trade.
The Commission estimates that if trade volumes remain the same, Israeli exporters would face approximately 220 million euros (around $260.48 million) in additional tariffs each year, affecting about 37 percent of their exports to the EU, primarily agricultural products like fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
The Commission stated that the measures are a response to Israel's violation of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing its effects on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the decline of the two-state solution.
Additionally, the Commission proposed sanctions against two Israeli ministers—National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich—as well as certain violent settlers and related entities. The EU also plans to add 10 Hamas political bureau members to its sanctions list, imposing asset freezes and travel bans.
Under EU rules, trade measures must be approved by a qualified majority in the Council of the European Union. They will officially take effect 30 days after notifying the EU-Israel Association Council.