International

The Israeli Army raids a hospital in northern Gaza with more than 100 patients

The Israeli army raided this Friday the Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahia (north of Gaza), where there are more than a hundred people trapped, and asked patients to move to the central courtyard, according to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa.

The Kamal Adwan is one of the few centers still operational in the north of the Strip, where three weeks of harsh Israeli offensive have left more than 700 dead and thousands of people displaced, according to data from the Gaza authorities.

The Qatari network Al Jazeera, which cites sources from the Gaza Civil Defense, assures that more than 150 patients and medical personnel are trapped in the center.

On Thursday afternoon, Israeli tanks fired at the hospital and destroyed an oxygen station, according to the media.

The Ministry of Health of the Palestinian enclave, governed by the Islamist group Hamas, denounced that the situation in the center “is catastrophic in every sense of the word,” and said that hundreds of patients, medical personnel and displaced people are detained by Israeli forces without food or medicine.

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On the other hand, the military agency in charge of the management of civil affairs in Gaza (COGAT) said on Friday that last night it facilitated the transfer of 23 patients, mostly minors, from Kamal Adwan to other hospitals in the Strip, and that the center received fuel and 180 units of blood for transfusions.

Hamas denounces the assault and Israel says it evacuated patients

The Islamist group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, denounced this Friday the raid on the hospital by Israeli forces, who confirmed that they had entered the center and assured that during the last few weeks they facilitated the evacuation of patients.

“The assault on the hospital (…) is a war crime and a blatant violation of international laws,” the group said in a statement, in which it asked Arab countries to take measures to stop the war, beyond issuing condemnatory statements.

For its part, the Israeli Army confirmed that it was operating inside the center, one of the few that still operated in the punished north of the Strip.

According to the military command, intelligence information indicates that there are militiamen and Hamas military infrastructure in the area.

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Bombings in Yabalia and Jan Yunis

Meanwhile, the Gaza authorities estimate that a new batch of attacks against the Yabalia refugee camp has caused some 150 deaths, although rescue services have not been able to access the area due to the siege of Israeli troops.

Israel claims to have killed more than 200 fighters in its new offensive in the north of the enclave.

In the south of the Strip, at least 38 people died during the night of Thursday and this Friday morning in several Israeli bombings against homes in the town of Jan Yunis, according to the Ministry of Health of the enclave, governed by Hamas.

The deadliest attack, which left at least 28 dead, took place in the Manara neighborhood, in the south of the town.

In a video published on social networks and verified by the Qatari network Al Jazeera, it is observed that several of the victims are minors.

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International

Air Canada suspends JFK flights amid soaring fuel costs linked to Iran conflict

Air Canada announced on Friday that it will suspend its flights from Montreal and Toronto to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport from June through late October, citing rising jet fuel costs driven by the conflict involving Iran.

“Since the beginning of the conflict with Iran, some routes and less profitable flights have become economically unviable, so we are making adjustments accordingly,” the airline said in a statement.

Despite the suspension, the carrier confirmed it will continue operating 34 daily flights from six Canadian cities to New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Air Canada expects to resume its JFK operations after October 25.

Meanwhile, Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz amid a temporary ceasefire in the region. However, jet fuel shortages could persist even if the truce holds.

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Fuel accounts for between 25% and 30% of operating costs for most airlines, and carriers worldwide have responded to the crisis by raising fares and suspending select routes due to safety and profitability concerns.

International

UK braces for potential CO₂ shortage amid Middle East tensions

The government of United Kingdom is preparing contingency measures amid fears of a potential shortage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which could impact the agri-food industry if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, The Times reported on Thursday.

According to the newspaper, officials assessed this scenario during a recent crisis meeting aimed at evaluating the consequences of a prolonged conflict, triggered on February 28 by joint attacks from United States and Israel against Iran.

Under this scenario, CO₂ supplies—primarily a byproduct of fertilizer production using natural gas—could fall by up to 18%, affecting multiple sectors including agriculture and food production.

The gas is widely used in the slaughter of pigs and poultry, as well as in extending the shelf life of packaged foods. Breweries could also face disruptions due to reduced availability.

“I don’t want to comment on a leak, but now that the information is out there, I hope people feel reassured knowing we are working on it,” said Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in remarks to Sky News.

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While a drop in CO₂ supply is not expected to cause major shortages in supermarkets, it could limit product variety, The Times noted, citing access to internal government documents.

To mitigate the impact, authorities are considering prioritizing CO₂ supply for critical sectors such as healthcare and civil nuclear energy, where it is used in cooling systems for blood reserves, organs, vaccines, and electricity generation. The government may also request domestic producers to increase output.

Central America

El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program

The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.

Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.

The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.

According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.

In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.