Canada's central bank cut its key lending rate to 2.5 percent on Wednesday, offering a boost to borrowers in an economy squeezed by US President Donald Trump's trade war.

The Israeli army said it has struck more than 150 targets in Gaza City since launching a major ground offensive on the Gaza Strip's main urban hub early on Tuesday.

"Over the past two days, the (Israeli air force) and artillery corps troops struck over 150 terror targets throughout Gaza City in support of the manoeuvring troops in the area," the military said in a statement issued Wednesday.

The EU on Wednesday proposed curbing trade ties with Israel and sanctioning ministers in its strongest action over the war in Gaza, but the measures will struggle to be adopted due to reluctance from key member states.

"I want to be very clear, the aim is not to punish Israel. The aim is to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.

Germany said Wednesday that the "ball is still in Iran's court" after the UK, France and Germany held talks with the Islamic republic over its nuclear program.

The phone talk came after European powers last month triggered a 30-day deadline for so-called "snapback" sanctions to come back into force in the absence of a negotiated deal on the Iranian nuclear program.

Israel announced on Wednesday a "temporary" new route for residents to flee Gaza City, as it launched an intense ground offensive after massive bombardment of the Palestinian territory's main city.

The Israeli military "announces the opening of a temporary transportation route via Salah al-Din Street", spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a statement, adding that "the route will be open for 48 hours only".

Preparations are underway for Pope Leo XIV to travel to Turkey and Lebanon at the end of November in what would be his first trip abroad, Vatican sources told AFP.

The two-stage trip would likely last just under a week, AFP understands. The Vatican does not normally confirm official visits until closer to the time.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Hamas would be in "big trouble" if they use hostages in Gaza as human shields during a new offensive launched by Israel.

"We'll wait to hear what happens, because I hear Hamas is trying to use the old human shield deal, and if they do that they're going to be in big trouble," Trump told reporters when asked about Israel's offensive.

Syrian foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced on Tuesday a plan backed by Jordan and the United States to restore calm to Druze-majority Sweida province, which witnessed deadly violence in July.

"The Syrian government has laid out a clear roadmap for action... that supports justice and builds trust," Shaibani said in a press conference, adding that the plan involves "holding accountable" those who attacked civilians, "compensating those affected", and "launching a process of internal reconciliation".

Yemen's Houthi rebels reported Israeli strikes on the country's Hodeida port on Tuesday, after Israel's military issued evacuation warnings for the area.

The rebel Al-Masirah television reported "a series of raids by Israeli enemy aircraft on the port of Hodeida", while military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group's air defenses were "currently confronting Israeli enemy aircraft launching an aggression against our country".

A shipowner wanted over the 2020 blast at Beirut port that killed more than 220 people has been arrested in Bulgaria, officials said Tuesday.

The August 4, 2020 disaster was one of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions, ravaging swathes of the Lebanese capital and injuring more than 6,500 people.