Displaced Palestinians in Al-Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza, welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, calling it a fragile step toward peace and survival.
Israel and Hamas on Thursday agreed to a Gaza ceasefire deal, offering a tentative path toward ending the two-year conflict that has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, injured almost 170,000 others, and left the enclave in ruins.
The deal on the first phase of a U.S.-backed peace plan, following intense negotiations in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheik mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States, outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal and establishes mechanisms for prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid delivery.
The ceasefire deal came into effect in the Gaza Strip at 12:00 noon local time (0900 GMT) on Friday, said the Israeli Defense Forces in a statement.
"Overall, the reaching of a ceasefire, or the temporary truce, as they call it, I don't want to say this is an achievement. Rather, this was a dream for the Palestinian people, to wake up in the morning and see that the occupation forces are gone from Gaza, with all their weapons, ammunition and warplanes. Of course, everyone is happy today, but the joy feels incomplete, because we are families of martyrs. We are the fathers, uncles, friends and neighbors of the martyrs. How can we return to our destroyed homes without our children? We lost our children in this war," said Nidal Al-Shorbaji, a Gaza resident.
For many Palestinians, the ceasefire represents a long overdue moment of hope and a chance to rebuild their shattered lives, after relentless suffering.
"Of course, the ceasefire will help a lot in improving the tough conditions the Palestinian people are living under, especially those staying in these tents with no electricity, no access to water, and suffering from constant thirst and the shortage of food. The ceasefire will greatly help bring in food aid, reopening of border crossings, and deliver aid to those who are living in these tents," said Anas Al-Khatib, a displaced Palestinian.
"In this war, we live with no water and eat from the charity kitchen. But with the ceasefire, my son will be able to work and provide for our daily needs, and we can live our lives normally, just like before. We need rest, work, safety, and to get our food, and live in our homes as we used to before. We no longer want to be forced from our homes. This is all we ask for," said Salaam Shbeir, another displaced Palestinian.
Gaza residents hope for enduring peace as ceasefire comes into effect
Gaza residents hope for enduring peace as ceasefire comes into effect
Gaza residents hope for enduring peace as ceasefire comes into effect
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
