Multiple political parties, social organizations, and crowds of citizens held a rally on Sunday in central Paris to condemn Israel's military actions in Gaza and express solidarity with Palestine.
As France and several other European countries plan to announce their recognition of the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, the demonstration drew an exceptionally large number of participants, with the crowd reaching several thousand. Despite the organizers claimed that it was a peaceful protest, heavy police presence still can be seen along their marching route.
Participants waved Palestinian flags and held signs with slogans such as "Save Gaza" and "Sanction Israel." Many French citizens condemned Israel's escalating military operations in the Gaza Strip and called on countries that have not yet made a decision to promptly recognize the State of Palestine.
"I believe Israel and Palestine should be two states. Today, Israel is slaughtering children. I've seen these images of children being slaughtered every day. I understand Arabic, and I saw these images live. I've seen constant bombings from the beginning of the conflict. Children are still being killed. That's why I came to the march, and why I will keep participating," said Mohamed Nabil-Kort, a demonstrator.
Leaders from several French political parties also joined the march that day. They said that recognizing the State of Palestine is a "necessary first step," but emphasized that truly ending the Israel-Palestine conflict will require stronger international action, including the imposition of economic sanctions on Israel.
"Today's march carries another important meaning. Because only recognizing the State of Palestine is not enough to make the Netanyahu government yield. There must be further measures specifically targeting Netanyahu's administration. That is why we are marching today. We hope that, in addition to recognizing the State of Palestine, France will step up its diplomatic efforts and introduce an economic sanctions plan against Israel," said Fabien Roussel, national secretary of the French Communist Party.
Thousands rally in Paris to support Palestine, condemn Israeli actions
Thousands rally in Paris to support Palestine, condemn Israeli actions
Thousands rally in Paris to support Palestine, condemn Israeli actions
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
