2nd day of ceasefire talks in Egypt concludes as Hamas demands permanent end to war

Hamas still seeks U.S. and Israeli guarantees of a permanent end to the war, stating that this remains the main sticking point in the negotiations so far.

The statement came as the second day of indirect Gaza ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, concluded on Tuesday in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

During the talks, the two sides focused on core issues, including the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of both Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners.

The talks began on Monday, aiming to implement the 20-point peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which Hamas has recently accepted in principle.

Hamas senior official Khalil al-Hayya, who is leading the Hamas delegation, said after the second day of talks with Israel that their discussions were focused on "responsible negotiations to achieve a ceasefire."

He highlighted that the main goal is to end the conflict and facilitate the exchange of detainees from both sides. Hamas is looking to establish a mechanism for a lasting ceasefire and wants a concrete commitment from Israel not to restart hostilities, he said.

According to sources, Hamas is insisting that the release of Israeli captives be linked to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces. They propose that the last captive be freed simultaneously with Israel's complete withdrawal.

The 20-point peace plan previously linked Israel's complete withdrawal with Hamas's disarmament. However, Hamas has explicitly revised this demand, rejecting Israel's proposal for a phased withdrawal.

Moreover, Hamas is urging the international community to enhance oversight of both a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza and Israel's full withdrawal. As of now, Israel has not revealed any details about the negotiations.

Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States have sent delegations to Sharm el-Sheikh, with all parties scheduled to continue talks on Wednesday.

According to media reports, the U.S. involvement in the discussion is intended to pressure both sides to speed up the negotiations and quickly reach a ceasefire agreement.

However, sources close to the talks pointed out that while the U.S. 20-point plan addresses many issues - such as withdrawal, the exchange of captives, and post-war governance - it sidesteps some key questions and lacks detailed, practical solutions for implementation.

Trump on Tuesday said that the next 48 hours are crucial for reaching an agreement between Israel and Palestine.

During a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday, Trump stated that serious negotiations are taking place regarding Gaza. He expressed hope that peace in the Middle East is possible and mentioned that they are very close to reaching an agreement on the matter. If a deal is made, he assured that they would do everything in their power to ensure that all parties follow it.

Tuesday also marked the second anniversary of the latest round of conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on Oct. 7, 2023. The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 67,000 Palestinians, caused massive destruction to Gaza's infrastructure, and created a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and famine in the besieged enclave.

2nd day of ceasefire talks in Egypt concludes as Hamas demands permanent end to war

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