Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 41,226 amid stalled ceasefire talks

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has reached 41,226 amid intensified violence and stalled ceasefire negotiations, threatening the continuation of a crucial polio vaccination campaign for children.

On Monday, Gaza health authorities reported that Israeli military actions over the past 24 hours resulted in 20 deaths and 76 injuries. Since the outbreak of the current conflict on October 7 of last year, Israeli military operations have killed 41,226 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and injured 95,413.

According to reports from London-based The New Arab on Monday, a Palestinian source familiar with the ceasefire negotiations revealed that the talks have been "ineffective" in recent weeks.

Mediators have attempted to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reengage in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and securing the release of Israeli hostages. However, Netanyahu has introduced new demands, including maintaining control over the "Philadelphia Corridor," a narrow buffer zone between Egypt and Gaza, which have complicated negotiations.

The source highlighted a "real gap" between the demands of Hamas and Netanyahu, which has obstructed progress towards a ceasefire agreement. The source criticized Netanyahu for frequently changing his stance and noted that Qatar and Egypt are now trying to persuade the United States to convince Netanyahu to meet the requirements for a ceasefire.

Ceasefire talks, which began on August 15 in Doha, have involved senior officials from Qatar, Egypt, the U.S., and Israel, as well as lower level working groups.

Despite several meetings in Doha and Cairo addressing issues like the ceasefire and the release of hostages, negotiations have recently stalled. Hamas has not directly participated in these talks but has been receiving updates from mediators.

Fighting continued on Sunday in Gaza, with Israeli forces targeting schools and refugee camps, resulting in numerous casualties.

An Israeli airstrike on a school in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, reportedly struck a shelter for displaced persons on Sunday, although the Israeli military claimed it was a Hamas command center. Casualty figures from this attack are still being assessed.

Additionally, Israeli forces attacked the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, and Gaza City, resulting in dozens of Palestinian deaths, including women and children.

Israeli airstrikes also targeted Rafah in southern Gaza, killing at least two Palestinians. Hamas's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced attacks on Israeli military vehicles near Rafah.

Less than a week ago, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that after over 11 months of military operations, Hamas's military infrastructure in Gaza "no longer exists." In response, Hamas senior official Osama Hamdan stated that the group remains capable of continuing the fight against Israel.

Meanwhile, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), reported that 90 percent of children in Gaza have received the first dose of the polio vaccine.

Lazzarini warned that the next major challenge is to secure a new humanitarian ceasefire to ensure that children receive the second dose by the end of the month.

The vaccination campaign, which began on September 1, was temporarily facilitated by a limited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 41,226 amid stalled ceasefire talks

A remote village on China's southwestern border, where many residents only became Chinese citizens two decades ago, has been dramatically transformed by government-backed tourism initiatives and modern infrastructure development.

Daman Village, nestling in the mountains of Gelong Town in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years. What's so special about this village is that out of its 89 households, 57 were officially granted Chinese citizenship in 2003. Now, thanks to significant government investment, the village is becoming a burgeoning tourist destination.

The newly completed mountain-view guesthouses, which represent one of the key government-funded projects, offer breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks draped in mist from their balcony.

"The total investment so far has exceeded 60 million yuan (about 8.55 million U.S. dollars). We're also constructing a tourist reception center and renovating many homes into guesthouses. This project marks the largest one we've undertaken since the villagers became Chinese citizens 20 years ago. It will not only boost local employment but also significantly increase incomes," said Kunchok Dorjee, Party Secretary of Chongdui Village, which administers Daman Village.

This sum of money represents the largest government investment in Daman Village since its formal establishment. Beyond tourism, the funding has been used to rebuild the homes of all 89 families.

Daman, meaning "cavalry" in Tibetan, traces its roots back to Gurkha soldiers native to ancient Nepal who, after allegedly losing a battle with the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) forces, became separated from their main army and remained stranded along the border.

For generations, their descendants roamed the borderlands between China, Nepal and India, without nationality or official status. Their long journey as a stateless people finally ended in 2003 when the Chinese government granted them citizenship, classifying them as Tibetan.

Xu Hongbin, originally from Chengdu City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, married a local woman from Daman Village. Reflecting on his first visit to the area a decade ago, Xu marveled at the changes the village has experienced in such a short period.

"A decade ago, there was only one road into the town. Now there are at least four. Everywhere you look, there are new buildings, guesthouses and restaurants. The development has been incredibly fast," he said.

Tourism fuels transformation in border village as residents mark 20 years of citizenship