The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a report on Friday, asserting that there must be "due reckoning" for the horrific violations and potential atrocity crimes occurring in the Gaza Strip.
Spanning the period from November 2023 to April 2024, the report provides a detailed examination of unlawful acts, including the deliberate targeting of civilians and other serious breaches of international humanitarian law. It indicates that many of these actions may constitute war crimes, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk emphasized that Israel must fully and immediately fulfill its international obligations to prevent, protect against and punish acts of genocide and associated prohibited conduct.
The report reveals that nearly 70 percent of those killed in Gaza due to hostilities, including airstrikes, were women and children, and approximately 80 percent of fatalities occurred in residential buildings or similar structures.
It calls for further investigation and full accountability into all violations and alleged violations in accordance with international law.
"It is essential that there is due reckoning with respect to the allegations of serious violations of international law through credible and impartial judicial bodies and that, in the meantime, all relevant information and evidence are collected and preserved," Türk said.
Türk also called on UN member states to reassess military sales and support to the parties involved in the conflict, particularly when such assistance carries a significant risk of serious violations of international law.
"The violence must stop immediately, the hostages and those arbitrarily detained must be released, and we must focus on flooding Gaza with humanitarian aid," he said.
Israel's unrelenting attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed 43,508 Palestinians and injured 102,684 others over the past 13 months since October 7, 2023, according to the enclave's health authorities on Friday.
UN Human Rights office demands accountability for violations, atrocity in Gaza
UN Human Rights office demands accountability for violations, atrocity in Gaza
UN Human Rights office demands accountability for violations, atrocity in Gaza
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
