Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 64,368

China

Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 64,368

2025-09-07 04:08 Last Updated At：16:27

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has risen to 64,368, with over 160,000 others injured, since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on Oct 7, 2023, said Gaza's health authorities on Saturday.

In the past 24 hours, hospitals across the region had received 68 victims and 362 injured ones , the authorities added.

On the same day, the Gaza media office said in a statement that the Israeli military operations in Gaza have now stretched into the 700th day, leaving catastrophic humanitarian consequences.

According to the statement, the conflict has left more than 70,000 people in the region either dead or missing, including over 20,000 children and 12,500 women.

The office also noted that 90 percent of Gaza's infrastructure has been destroyed, with economic losses exceeding 68 billion U.S. dollars.

Israeli military actions have also ruined hospitals, mosques, and schools, and its complete blockade has left over 2.4 million people in a humanitarian crisis, over one million of whom are children on the verge of hunger, said the statement.

Palestine strongly condemned Israeli actions, and accused its supporting countries like the United States of being responsible, while urging urged Arab and Islamic countries, as well as the international community, to take immediate actions to stop Israeli military actions, lift the blockade, safeguard displaced residents to return home, and hold Israeli leaders legally accountable.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday decided to resume a high-level international conference on the two-state solution on Sept. 22, reviving a process that was put on hold this summer amid escalating violence in the Middle East.

The assembly adopted an oral decision proposed by Saudi Arabia on the resumption of the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

After the adoption of the oral decision, both Israel and the United States declared their disassociation from it, saying the resumption of the conference would prolong the war in Gaza and embolden Hamas.

Both Israel and the United States declared their disassociation from it, saying the resumption of the conference would prolong the war in Gaza and embolden Hamas.

Resuming the conference during the UNGA's high-level week provides an opportunity for more heads of state and government to attend the event.

It remains unknown whether Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would be able to attend the conference in person, as the United States has imposed a visa ban on Palestinian officials.

At the last such high-level conference, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia from July 28 to 30, multiple countries signaled their willingness to recognize the statehood of Palestine during the UNGA's high-level week in September.

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.