Displaced residents in Gaza have reacted to the United States' 20-point peace proposal with misgivings and called for an immediate end to the bloodshed of Palestinians in the war-torn strip.
At a joint press conference after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point Gaza peace plan. It includes an immediate ceasefire and the release of all Israeli detainees within 72 hours.
Trump emphasized that Netanyahu had endorsed the proposal. He also vowed that if Hamas does not accept the plan, the United States would provide its "full backing" to Israel's attack in Gaza.
The plan, which calls for "a deradicalised terror-free zone", has been met with mixed feelings from Gazans who have endured nearly two years of conflict.
"After two years of war, the decision calls for disarming Gaza. I feel both for and against it. I support it because we are extremely exhausted, but I oppose it because we are the rightful owners of the land, and disarmament would mean submission and surrender," said Hamed Zoweidi, a displaced Palestinian.
The ongoing conflict has caused massive casualties, and ending the bloodshed is the top priority for many Palestinians.
"I believe stopping the bloodshed of Palestinians is the most important thing for us right now. As for the Palestinian resistance, it is not new; it has existed since this occupation of Palestine," said Ashraf Abu Nada, another displaced Palestinian.
People whose homes have been destroyed and lives disrupted are desperate to return to normalcy.
"The most important thing is to stop the bloodshed, let people return to their homes, and end the destruction. We want this massacre and nightmare to stop," said Dawoud Madi, another displaced Palestinian.
"Enough, enough of slaughtering people, demolishing their homes, and the constant bombardment. We are all exhausted, and famine continues. That's why we want the war to stop right now -- this very minute. We want it to end," said Naif Musbah, another displaced Palestinian.
The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 66,097, with 168,536 injured, since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted on October 7, 2023, Gaza's health authorities said in a statement on Tuesday.
Displaced Gazans express misgivings about Trump's peace proposal, urge end to bloodshed
Displaced Gazans express misgivings about Trump's peace proposal, urge end to bloodshed
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
