Israel's decision to take full control of Gaza City has been met with widespread indignation among Palestinian people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Friday in a statement that the Security Cabinet has approved a plan to take over the enclave's biggest city, and that the Israel Defense Forces will prepare for the takeover while distributing humanitarian assistance to civilians outside the combat zones.
Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported on Saturday that in two weeks, the army will begin evacuating more than 800,000 residents of the Strip's largest city to the humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza.
In a month, a reserve division will be recruited to join the five divisions already operating in the Strip, ahead of an intense military operation in Gaza City set to begin in about two months.
For civilians in Gaza City, they feel desperate about the unknown they are facing.
"We don't want war and occupation. We want freedom. We want Gaza City. Every morning, we have to queue at distribution points just to get a bag of flour. Gaza City has nothing left. Why do you (Israel) still want to occupy it?" said a resident in Gaza City.
"Everything is destroyed. There's nowhere safe in the Gaza Strip. Where are we supposed to go? Living in tents is not a normal life. We've already endured so much suffering and humiliation fleeing to the south," said another displaced person in the city.
"With famine, displacement, and living in tents, asking us to evacuate is like forcing us directly into the sea," said another Gaza City resident.
Israeli media reports suggest the takeover aims to pressure Hamas into resuming negotiations for the release of hostages apart from military goals.
Gazans condemned the Israeli forces for attempting to achieve their goals by harming civilians.
"They are not targeting armed forces. They are targeting civilians. We are their real target, not Hamas. They are killing civilians to force Hamas to release the Israeli hostages. But what have we done wrong?" said a Gazan.
"Netanyahu cannot force us to surrender. I want to tell him: you cannot drive us away. Do what you want. We will remain on our land. We don't want your food or water. We will stay here until the end," said another Gazan.
Palestinians denounce Israel's plan to take over Gaza City
Palestinians denounce Israel's plan to take over Gaza City
Palestinians denounce Israel's plan to take over Gaza City
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
