Residents in Ankara on Thursday welcomed the announcement of the initial phase of a ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas with cautious optimism, as many in the Turkish capital still distrust Israel and its ally, the United States.
The ceasefire agreement was announced earlier on Thursday after three days of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh, with the participation of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye.
"We are very happy to see such progress in Gaza ceasefire. We hope that with this ceasefire deal, people will never again wage war, and innocent people will not die," said Berke, an Ankara resident.
However, some Turkish people feel that the news seems too good to be true. Many are nervous that the ceasefire may ultimately unravel, as happened with a deal earlier this year when the Israeli military resumed its Gaza offensive on March 18, disrupting a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement established in January.
Two years of relentless Israeli strikes have devastated Gaza, caused famine, and killed more than 67,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.
"I hope the ceasefire can really come true, but Israel is not trustworthy as its attacks are very brutal," said Kemal, a local resident.
"A ceasefire is good, but I don't think it will be sustainable. Anything with the United States behind it will become unreliable," said Zeki, another resident. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Türkiye's Foreign Ministry also issued a statement on the same day, calling on all parties to earnestly implement the terms of the agreement, give priority to ensuring the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and begin rebuilding Gaza at an early date.
Ankara residents cautiously optimistic about Gaza ceasefire
Ankara residents cautiously optimistic about Gaza ceasefire
Ankara residents cautiously optimistic about Gaza ceasefire
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
