The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 62,686, with 157,951 others injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted on Oct 7, 2023, Gaza's health authorities said in a statement on Sunday.
Over the past 24 hours alone, Israeli offensives in the enclave have killed 64 people and wounded 278 others, the statement noted.
Since Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18 this year, 10,842 people have been killed and another 45,910 injured, according to the statement.
A statement released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the same day said that one of its brigades had returned to the Jabalia region, near Gaza City, to carry out military operations.
According to the IDF, this move enables it to expand operations across a broader area around Gaza City.
The statement also said that the IDF is strengthening its control over the Jabalia region by removing both above-ground and underground Hamas facilities, further weakening the group's military capabilities.
So far, the IDF said its forces have discovered an underground tunnel, from which they removed armed personnel and infrastructure used to launch attacks against Israeli troops.
The Israeli security cabinet on Aug 8 approved a plan to defeat Hamas and to take over Gaza City, a move that sparked opposition and condemnation both at home and abroad.
Located in northern Gaza, Gaza City is regarded by Israel as a stronghold of Hamas and a location where hostages are being held.
On Aug 20, the Israeli military announced that it had taken control of the area surrounding Gaza City and is preparing to take over the city itself.
The military is planning to launch offensives against the city by mid-September, according to Israeli media outlets.
A statement released by Hamas on Sunday said the group strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval of the plan to take over Gaza City, which came after Hamas had accepted a new ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators.
Hamas said the decision showed that Israel was deliberately hindering efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement.
The Gaza-based media office said in a statement on the same day that, against the backdrop of a threatened Israeli offensive on Gaza City, more than 2.4 million Palestinians are facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 62,686
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
