In a joint statement released on Thursday, over 100 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) condemned the Israeli government for blocking their efforts to bring supplies into Gaza.
The joint statement said that Israel's justification has rejected the requests from dozens of NGOs to transport aid supplies to the Gaza Strip on the grounds that they are "not authorized to deliver aid". In July alone, over 60 requests from dozens of NGOs have been disallowed.
The joint statement also pointed out that the current situation has confirmed the previous concerns of the NGOs, that is, Israel's registration system is being used as a further tool to block aid, keeping food and medicine out of the Gaza Strip when it is facing the worst famine.
Among them, the 2.5 million U.S. dollars' worth of aid supplies raised by Oxfam, headquartered in the UK, were blocked outside the Gaza Strip by Israel, while the seven million U.S. dollars' worth of supplies provided by the American Near East Refugee Aid were forced to be stranded in the Israeli port city of Ashdod, which is adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
The NGOs are also concerned that if they fail to submit the identity information of their Palestinian employees by the September deadline set by the Israeli government, the Israeli side may completely ban their operations in Gaza and the West Bank and force them to withdraw all international employees within 60 days. In March this year, the Israeli government issued a series of new regulations targeting foreign NGOs working with Palestinians, requiring aid organizations to register with the Israeli side. Otherwise, they are not allowed to operate legally in Israel.
The new regulations also list various situations that may lead to the rejection of registration or the revocation of qualifications. For instance, registration can be rejected if Israeli authorities determine that a group "promotes delegitimisation campaigns" against the country.
Over 100 aid groups condemn Israeli gov't for hindering aid supplies into Gaza
Over 100 aid groups condemn Israeli gov't for hindering aid supplies into Gaza
Over 100 aid groups condemn Israeli gov't for hindering aid supplies into 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
