Two-state solution remains only way to peace for Palestinian, Israeli people: UN chief

China

Two-state solution remains only way to peace for Palestinian, Israeli people: UN chief

2025-09-06 17:17 Last Updated At：21:57

The two-state solution remains the only way for the Palestinian and the Israeli people to live in peace, said United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week in an interview in north China's port city of Tianjin.

Guterres made the remarks in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) on the sideline of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which took place from Aug 31 to Sept 1 and gathered leaders from more than 20 countries and the heads of 10 international organizations.

He underscored the deteriorating humanitarian situations in Gaza and the urgent need of the enclave's residents to access aid freely.

"Now there is an offensive in Gaza City that will have again the tremendous impact, making hundreds of thousands of people being forced to move once again and with unimaginable level of suffering. So, we must stop this. So, first an immediate permanent ceasefire. On the other hand, it is totally unacceptable to have hostages, and those hostages have been treated in a very horrible way. So, hostages must be also released immediately and unconditionally," he said.

"And then there must be complete free access for humanitarian organizations to distribute basic humanitarian items to the population in Gaza, that needs food, that needs water, that needs medicine, that needs sanitation, that is in absolutely dramatic situation, and famine was the result of that. So, obstacles must end. Any problems that are put to humanitarian action must stop, and the humanitarian access must be guaranteed everywhere. Not forgetting that as occupying power, Israel has the objective to guarantee that the population in Gaza has food, has health care, because this is part of the international law," he said.

He noted that the Palestinian residents in the occupied West Bank are also facing severe impacts from the expansion of Israeli settlements, which is a major blow to the two-state solution.

"It's not only Gaza, it's also the situation in the West Bank where we see now decision to build the extension of settlements that will divide the West Bank into two separating north and south, which of course would be another tremendous setback in the way to a two-state solution that in my opinion remains the only possible solution for two peoples to live in peace," said Guterres.

On Aug 19, Israel gave final approval for a new settlement in E1, a highly contentious area of the occupied West Bank.

The Higher Planning Council authorized 3,753 housing units, including 3,401 for final approval in the E1 neighborhood of Maale Adumim. The project would link settlements to create a continuum separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media

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.