The UN human rights office (OHCHR) on Thursday condemned Israel's fatal attacks on food aid points in Gaza which led to the death of children and women who were waiting for aid.
At least 15 children and women were killed and dozens wounded while waiting for food aid in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday in an Israeli airstrike, according to Palestinian medical sources.
Eyewitnesses said that the attack took place in an area designated by the Israeli army as "green and safe", where a queue of women and children were waiting to receive nutritional supplements for kids suffering from malnutrition and severe anemia caused by the continued Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid into the coastal enclave.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani expressed deep concern over the killings and potential atrocity crimes.
"We've raised concerns about atrocity crimes having been committed and the risk of further atrocity crimes being committed. Where people are lining up for essential supplies such as food and medicine and where they are being attacked, where again, as my colleagues have said, they have a choice between being shot or being fed – this is unacceptable and it's continuing," she said.
As of July 7, the OHCHR had documented nearly 800 killings in aid distribution areas in Gaza, with the majority of these deaths occurring near the sites operated by U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
According to the OHCHR, the foundation took control of aid distribution in Gaza on May 27 despite opposition from the U.N. and most humanitarian groups.
"In the course of this conflict, we have had serious concerns about respect for international humanitarian law principles, essential principles of distinction, proportionality in attack. We have seen that of the overall death toll in Gaza, a large proportion are women and children. And again, that raises serious questions about whether these principles are being respected," she said.
UN human rights office condemns Israel's fatal attacks on Gaza food aid points
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
