The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip from Israeli attacks has risen to 61,430, with 153,213 others injured since October 7, 2023, Gaza-based health authorities said on Sunday.
Over the past 24 hours, Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of 61 Palestinians and 363 injuries. Among the casualties, 35 were killed and 304 wounded while waiting to receive humanitarian aid supplies.
Before the United Nations Security Council held an emergency session on the situation in Gaza on Sunday, Britain, Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia issued a joint statement, strongly condemning the Israeli government's decision to further expand its military operations and calling on Israel to immediately withdraw the takeover plan.
The statement warned that the plan could violate international humanitarian law and further endanger the lives of civilians and detainees in Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The statement reiterated that any annexation or expansion of settlements is illegal.
The statement noted that the risk of famine in Gaza is growing, with children dying of hunger, and civilians being forced to risk their lives to find food at aid distribution points. The five countries called on Israel to lift restrictions on aid deliveries, eliminate unreasonable visa and registration requirements for international non-governmental organizations, and open all land routes to ensure the entry of essential supplies such as food, medicine, fuel, and clean water into Gaza.
The statement called on all parties to immediately reach a permanent ceasefire, release all hostages, and accelerate progress on the two-state solution, so as to achieve long-term peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 61,430
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 61,430
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
